Movie Reaction: The Other Woman

Formula: The First Wives Club * The Sweetest Thing

Why I Saw It: Three leads who I like seeing for different (and some of the same) reasons.

Cast: Leslie Mann, Leslie Mann, Leslie Mann. She is a force in this movie and repeatedly carried the entire film on her back and nearly makes it work. I'm reminded of Melissa McCarthy in the way that she completely takes over every scene she is in and I'm happy about it. She is flat-out hilarious in this movie. Cameron Diaz feels really miscast. I think she is happiest and best in the movie when she gets to match Mann's energy but so much of the movie requires to play the straight-man and it's uncomfortable. Speaking of uncomfortable. Kate Upton, at this point, can't really act. That's not a surprise. It's sad watching her disappear in scenes with the two leads. Jaime Lannister Nikolaj Coster-Waldau has too play a bit too much of a cover-all villain. Don Johnson isn't worried about trying anymore (in a good way). Nicki Minaj I simply didn't like. In a movie that already has Upton in it, I would've preferred getting a Regina Hall to come in instead of Minaj.

Plot: Here's where it's a real mess. The basic story is easy. Mann finds out her husband is cheating on her with Diaz who doesn't know he is married. The form a friendship and bring in mistress number 2 (Upton) to get back at him. If the movie just stuck to that and became a sort of updated First Wives Club, I'd be all for it. Instead, it was all over the place in tone (slapstick to gross-out to dramatic to caper, etc.). I should be used to it by now, but why do comedies always forget to keep it funny in the third act?

Elephant in the Room: What about the husband? Thanks for reminding me. He sucked, perhaps too much. At no point does this movie ever try to add complexity to him. He's a sociopathic liar, out for himself first and foremost and at no point responds like a human. At one point in the movie, we're supposed to believe that Mann is having second thoughts about him with is one of the hollowest emotional moments I've seen in a while. Really, he sucks.

Movie Theater MVP (Most Valuable Patron): This is being award to the guy sitting behind my group who promised us beforehand that he didn't have a loud, obnoxious laugh. Well, that was a bit of a lie, but it was the most entertaining laugh. One of those that goes on about 5 seconds too long and sort of escapes from his mouth.

To Sum Things Up:
This is a bad movie with one very good performance. If all you need is a couple good laughs and you can ignore the rest of what's going on, then it'll be fine. See it. You'll enjoy yourself. If you are hoping for something with a little more substance or that will hold up to multiple viewings down the line, you may just want to wait for the next lead role Leslie Mann gets, which she's certain to have because 1) she's so damn good in this and 2) it helps to have super-producer Judd Apatow as your husband.

Verdict (?): Weakly Recommend