‘Spa Weekend’ Review: In This Humorless Buddy Comedy, the Mediocrity Is the Massage

"Spa Weekend" is the latest in a long line of films featuring older women coming together for a vacation getaway, getting into shenanigans, and reuniting with lifelong friends. It's usually a harmless, wish fulfillment scenario, but "Spa Weekend" is anything but harmless. The cast, comprised of many talented comedians, deserves applause, but the material in the film is only half-baked.

Their performance in "Spa Weekend" is disappointing, as any "Great British Bake Off" host would say. The film's recipe sounds enticing, but the final product leaves a bitter taste.

Leslie Mann, Anna Faris, and Michelle Buteau play single moms on the lookout for a break from their stressful lives. They head to a fancy health spa for a weekend getaway, deciding not to invite their flaky bestie, Isla Fisher, who shows up anyway with a suitcase full of dildos and wreaks havoc. Despite her best efforts, Fisher almost makes the gag work, delivering one of the film's best punchlines.

However, the film relies too heavily on bawdy humor, which falls flat. The filmmakers resort to raunchy humor frequently, even when the other jokes fail.

The film attempts to subvert the genre's formula by focusing on the most developed character, Michelle Buteau's role. Buteau's character goes through a real journey of self-discovery, reflecting on her anger issues and working towards healing. However, the rest of the ensemble feels underdeveloped, with each character serving a specific purpose.

The filmmakers' adherence to the vacay ensemble comedy checklist leaves little room for creativity or innovation. "Spa Weekend" is a disappointing attempt at indulgence, failing to deliver on its promise of entertaining escapism. The cast, while talented, is given mediocre material to work with. Comedy enthusiasts deserve better, and so does the genre.