A fun romp on middle aged female friendships, Scott Moore & Jon Lucas’ Spa Weekend is an immensely entertaining adult comedy. Starring Leslie Mann, Michelle Buteau, Anna Faris, and Isla Fisher, the film follows four lifelong friends who decide to attend a spa weekend to destress from their busy lives. Hijinks ensue, and the group learn valuable lessons about themselves and their friendship.
Writer/directors Moore and Lucas, the writers behind such modern comedy classics as The Hangover trilogy, approach their film with a commendable amount of compassion, choosing not to derive comedy through the mocking of their characters’ age, as would perhaps be typical for a film of this sort, but through a genuinely hilarious conflict between the women and the administration of the spa resort. The performances of the four leads are all pitch perfect, as one would expect from such titans of modern comedic cinema, and their chemistry is palpable.
Mann portrays Jane, a single mum and lawyer with a busy schedule, in what is perhaps her best performance in several years, managing to balance the more explicitly comedic parts of her character with a heartwarming romantic subplot between her and a yoga teacher at the resort. Buteau as Coco is easily the standout of the cast, with absolutely impeccable timing and incredible one liners. Her chemistry with ex-husband Roger, portrayed by Dominic Ona-Ariki, is also a highlight of the film and shows a playful and lighter side of divorce than a viewer has come to expect from films on the subject of middle age. Faris and Fisher are equally magnificent in their roles, and complement their characters’ neuroses nicely. Faris’ Sophie is an uptight workaholic and Fisher’s Mel is a perennially unemployed party animal, and the interplay between those two oppositional lifestyles is immensely enjoyable to see unfold.
Formally, the film is nothing special, but the rather basic compositional choices allow for the performances and comedic material to take centre stage, a choice that undeniably elevates the film above your typical mid-budget adult comedy fare. Overall, Spa Weekend is an incredibly fun time at the movies, and an uplifting celebration of women and middle aged life.
