The new comedy Spa Weekend opened in theaters on August 20, but early reviews suggest the film’s promise of a raucous girls’ getaway never quite translates into sustained laughs. Despite a star-studded cast featuring Leslie Mann, Isla Fisher, Michelle Buteau, and Anna Faris, the high-concept premise falls flat in execution, leaving audiences with a 97-minute running time that feels longer than its plot warrants.
Directed by Scott Moore, the film follows three longtime friends - Jane (Mann), Coco (Buteau), and Sophie (Faris) - who book a luxury spa retreat hoping for relaxation and bonding. Their plans derail when their perpetually chaotic friend Mel (Fisher) shows up unannounced, turning what should be a serene escape into a cascade of mishaps and emotional turbulence. The setup aims for the kind of cringe-comedy energy that thrives on awkward social dynamics, but reviews indicate the script rarely achieves the comedic highs it reaches for.
A Familiar Formula With Diminishing Returns
The premise itself is not new territory for either lead actress. Fisher and Mann previously teamed up in the 2016 comedy How to Be a Latin Lover, and Fisher built a career on playing the lovable disaster in films like Wedding Crashers and Confessions of a Shopaholic. Mann, meanwhile, has carved a niche as the exasperated straight woman in countless Judd Apatow productions. Here, the pairing is meant to spark friction, but critics note that the dynamic quickly grows repetitive: Mel enters, causes a scene, and the others react with weary exasperation rather than genuine wit.
What distinguishes Spa Weekend from similar buddy-comedies is its attempt to ground the chaos in something resembling heartfelt reflection. Flashbacks to a younger Mel (played by Quinn Aune) hint at a deeper backstory, suggesting the filmmakers wanted more than just surface-level silliness. Yet this tonal shift toward earnestness clashes with the broader, more cartoonish moments, leaving the film unsure whether it wants to be a farce or a character study. The result, according to several early notices, is a muddled middle ground that satisfies neither impulse.
Supporting Cast and Setting Do Heavy Lifting
Where the film does manage to find some traction is in its supporting players and setting. Michelle Buteau, a stand-up comic with reliably sharp timing, delivers the most consistently funny lines as Coco, the pragmatic friend who sees through Mel’s antics without fully turning cold. Adam Demos, known for Sex/Life, pops up as Kai, a spa employee who becomes an unwitting participant in the group’s drama, bringing a deadpan charm that helps offset the main quartet’s increasingly shrill energy.
The spa setting itself - all muted linens, herbal teas, and enforced serenity - provides a serviceable backdrop for comic contrast. The visual gag of chaos erupting in a space designed for stillness is an old trick, but Moore, who previously co-wrote The Hangover, knows how to frame a scene for maximum awkwardness. Still, the cinematography and production design can only compensate so much for a screenplay that leans heavily on improv-style banter without the sharp writing to back it up.
Audience Reception vs. Critical Consensus
The film currently holds a 7.3/10 rating on TMDb, suggesting that general audiences may be more forgiving than professional critics. That slight gap is not unusual for a comedy of this type - films in this genre often play better with a crowd than they do in a quiet screening room. The chemistry among the four leads is genuinely palpable at times, and there is an undeniable charm in watching four accomplished comedians share the screen, even when the material lets them down.
For fans of Mann and Fisher specifically, Spa Weekend may still hold appeal as a showcase of their individual strengths. Mann excels at playing someone teetering on the edge of a breakdown, while Fisher has a gift for making even the most obnoxious behavior vaguely endearing. Buteau and Faris each get moments to shine, but their roles feel underwritten, leaving gifted performers with little to do beyond reacting to the central hurricane that is Mel.
A Comedy That Settles for Comfortable Laughs
In the end, Spa Weekend may be best viewed as a lightweight, disposable entry in the summer movie calendar. It is not an embarrassment, nor is it the kind of film that will spark heated debate or cult devotion. It simply exists, competently made yet ultimately forgettable, a high-concept pitch that somehow lost its sharpest edges somewhere between the drawing board and the final cut. For anyone seeking a gentle, low-stakes comedy with a recognizable cast, it will pass the time. For those hoping for the comic fireworks its cast and premise promise, it likely delivers more steam than heat.
Source: Variety
