Spa Weekend

Mud baths, seaweed scrubs and… strippers. The writers of The Hangover have thrown off their sunglasses and slipped on their dressing gowns for this new friendship comedy that laughs in the face of Goop, guided meditations and yoga classes. 

Jane (Leslie Mann), Sophie (Anna Faris) and Coco (Michelle Buteau) have been best friends since childhood. Now firmly in middle age, all three of them are harried and worn down, each with their own cross to bear: single motherhood, a sick parent, a divorce, an overbearing man-baby boss. To celebrate Jane’s birthday, the trio decide to do something for themselves for a change, and book an indulgent spa weekend. 

So far, so relaxing. The hotel is beautiful, they got an amazing discount, and there’s a particularly hot yoga instructor. But uh-oh, here comes the maniacal and preposterously idiotic Mel – played by Isla Fisher dressed like she’s an extra in Mamma Mia!, in a blaze of neon flares and oversized sunglasses – gyrating and yelling at her fellow ‘middle-aged sluts’ across the pool. Mel is the loose cannon of the group who wasn’t supposed to be invited. What could possibly go wrong?

A lot, it transpires. The ensuing hijinks are a melange of pleasingly satirical takedowns of woo-woo wellness culture (goat yoga, anyone?), relatable friendship dynamics, and some downright ridiculous stuff that feels a bit forced (a Police Interceptors-style golf cart chase? I don’t think so). 

Spa Weekend is as formulaic as a sauna followed by a cold plunge

If this formula of a group of friends coming together for a weekend of chaos sounds familiar, that’s because Spa Weekend is written and directed by the maestros of the crass situational comedy, Jon Lucas and Scott Moore (The Hangover, Bad Moms, 21 & Over). And Spa Weekend is as formulaic as a sauna followed by a cold plunge – a raging party is the catalyst for the drama in the third act. But it’s also got a lot of laughs, a fair amount of heart and an abundance of zingers. 

Each of the leads brings something different to the group. Mann is at her best when she is sassing the dishy yoga teacher. Some of the finest and most shrewd jokes come from the cutting Buteau. (‘You’re supposed to move on with Gigi Hadid, not Ina Garten’, she jibes about her ex-husband’s new older girlfriend). Faris is hilariously believable as the shrinking violet who just wants everyone to get along, and Fisher brings a ridiculous frat boy energy. 

But it’s not all plain spa-ing and the film feels clunky at times. Everything wraps up with a few mawkish scenes which include some godawful music and cringe slow-motion running shots. Spa Weekend also relies too heavily on cutting between scenes with strange close-ups that look like ASMR TikToks or stock footage; luckily we’re not here to see world-class cinematography, but it feels jarring nonetheless. 

Spa Weekend may not be on the same level as Bridesmaids, but it’s a fun bit of escapism that puts female friendship at its centre. It’ll also stop you from saying ‘yes’ to a guided meditation ever again, and that’s something to be thankful for.

In cinemas worldwide Fri Aug 21.