Spa Weekend – Movie Review
The new “mom-com” Spa Weekend comes from the writer-director duo Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, the brains behind The Hangover and Bad Moms, which makes complete sense here because Spa Weekend is the hybrid of those two movies combining, resulting in a funny, raucous, harmless, albeit predictable and less crude version of its spiritual predecessors that seems best watched after a couple of Rose’s with the gal pals.
Jane (Leslie Mann) is a single mum and lawyer whose jam packed calendar leaves no rooms for dating prospects. Coco (Michelle Buteau) is a recent divorcee with a slight anger issue. Sophie (Anna Faris) is an under-appreciated, over-worked assistant to a man-boy executive. And these ladies, who have been best friends since childhood, are in desperate need of a getaway/ So for Jane’s birthday, they decide to spend a relaxing and rejuvenating weekend at a luxurious spa resort. But that relaxation comes to an abrupt end when their estranged, rambunctious, loud and foul mouthed friend, Mel (Isla Fisher), crashes the weekend, leading to debauchery and chaos.
If you enjoyed Bad Moms, then you’ll have a good time with Spa Weekend. It’s the type of harmless comedy film that is an easy watching, fast-paced, good laugh that Lucas and Moore have provided many times before. While the comedy never pushes itself to the level of crudeness that something like The Hangover or Bad Moms did, it has enough sex jokes and f-bombs to not turn away the crowd it’s drawing – which is middle-aged mums looking for a slightly edgy comedy that doesn’t forgo its heart and romance.
Mel has a suitcase full of dildos, Coco is hilariously cursing out anyone who dares stand before her, and Jane’s pursuit of the hot yoga teacher leads to a When Harry Met Sally diner inspired moment. There are hijinks and shenanigans galore, and it’s obvious that the cast are having a blast taking part, often leaning into the absurdity without any inhibitions. Funnily enough, Anna Faris (who has made a name in crude comedies like Scary Movie) and her turn as the innocent Sophie plays more against type, but still brings the laughs. In fact, each actress does a great job of understanding the assignment, leaving no weak links in the ensemble cast. However, the scene stealers are the quick-witted insults of Buteau and the completely unhinged energy of Fisher.
At its core, this is a story about female friendships being tested, and it succeeds at playing to that cinematic formula well enough. The film doesn’t throw in many twists, turns, or subversions to that formula, so at times the story can feel quite predictable, but it’s sweet and endearing thanks to the heartfelt performances. It’s impossible not to be swept up by Jane’s long overdue romantic pursuits, or Coco’s attempts at reconciliation with her ex-husband. But, if the core group don’t love and care for each other, none of that works, and thankfully here, it does.
Spa Weekend is one of those easy-watching comedies that proves the mums can also have fun, both on the screen and in the cinema. This is a perfect example of a movie best enjoyed with the girlfriends, wine in hand, and primed for a good laugh.
Spa Weekend is in Australian cinemas August 20
