LIKE A BOSS – Review

In the last couple of weeks we’ve welcomed a new year and a new decade, so let’s continue the festivities down at the multiplex with a new flick that celebrates friendship. Now we know that those “bad boys” will be back next week, so we’re being treated to a rarity, a female “buddy” comedy. Yes, there were a few of these attempts last year. THE HUSTLE and CHARLIE’S ANGELS flopped, while BOOK SMART soared with it’s two devoted high school heroines. In some ways, this new flicks expands on the latter film, namely what happens to these two lifelong BFFs as they continue on well past their academic years and begin a business together. Plus, in a refreshing change from the studio norm, there are no messy romantic entanglements to come between them (perhaps we’re past the cliche of “fighting over the same guy”). Still, there are lots of bumps in this tale, since one of the pals feels that she’s got to step things “up” and conduct herself more LIKE A BOSS.

During the film’s opening titles, candid photos and news clippings get us “up to speed” on the long friendship Of Mel (Rose Byrne) and Mia (Tiffany Haddish). Well, more like “sisterhood” since Mel’s drug-addled mom skipped town and Mia’s family embraced her during those teenage years. That’s when the ladies began their co-careers as they created and sold cosmetics in Mia’s garage. Cut to Atlanta today as the two share that old family two-story, brush their teeth in the side by side bathroom sinks, and carpool in a far from new “economy compact” to their “side-street” storefront salon/shop. They’ve got a couple of employees: an eccentric craftsman, Barrett (Billy Porter) who whips up their one-of-a-kind shades of lipstick and beauty products, and Sydney (Jennifer Coolidge), the daffy much-married clerk who also applies those said items to those in need of a “touch-up”. Things seem to be going well, but Mel, who handles the bookwork, is worried about the massive several hundred thousand dollar debt hanging over them. And all their old school chums seem to be married and raising babies in luxury. Then the answer to Mel’s worries walks through the door. Josh Tinker (Karan Soni) the assistant to the owner of a worldwide cosmetics brand informs them that his boss is impressed with their ideas, especially a tiny bag of mini-make-ups called the “one night stand” kit, and wants to meet with them. The next day at the opulent HQ, the famous cosmetics mogul Claire Luna (Salma Hayek) offers to buy a controlling (51%) interest in the ladies’ brand. Mel wants to jump on it, but Mia doesn’t want to give up all control. They suggest Luna takes (49%), and she begrudgingly accepts. After the duo leaves, Luna tells Tinker that she’ll destroy Mel and Mia’s friendship, then swoop in and gobble up their company. But there’s no way these two “besties” will ever break up, not over money, right? Right?

The film’s momentum is propelled by the energetic, “no holds barred” comedic “force of nature’ that is Ms. Haddish. Her every scene crackles, whether she’s clashing with Mel, lending a friendly assist to a make-up model, or cavorting in the kitchen for a “post passion” pancake feast prepared by her much-younger “booty call” played by Jacob Latimore. She’s counter-balanced by the more restrained, awkward performance by Byrne whose Mel, unlike Mia, doesn’t want to “break bread” with her own “sleep-over stud”. She’s more timid, leading to the conflict as she desperately tries to appease her new investor (or financial rescuer). And as she did in the NEIGHBORS flick, Byrne is a deft physical comic, especially as she tries to blend in and chat with some college ladies (mostly to gather consumer intel). But these two different personas combine to become a terrifically funny team with their meshed spirits (and lots of “weed”) needed to face off against the diminutive locomotive, ready to roll over anyone, played by the fiesty Hayek. She’s clearly having a great time as the cartoonish (Mia even calls her Jessica Rabbit) Luna whether she menacingly twirls a gold (naturally) golf club or hops atop a bright red footstool to lord over her throngs. Kudos for making this lady villainess just as..well maybe more…ruthless as any male menace. And the trio is given great support by several comedy veterans. Soni is a superb smirking sycophant as ‘toadie” Tinker. Coolidge (a great part of “mockumentaries”, but forever “Stifler’s Mom”) keeps every scene she’s in a bit off balance with her unpredictable line delivery. Plus she’s a great partner with Porter who says so much with an eyelid at “half-mast” or a curled lip. And his “emotional exit” from a really awful Lunch is a flamboyant farce. Another unexpected but terrific teaming is that of Ryan Hansen and Jimmy O. Yang as a couple of sexist “bros” who somehow create their own line of cosmetics and become another weapon for Luna’s attack on the double “M’s”. All these actors can really “Bring the funny” and deliver big laughs.

Unfortunately, the script (which had three scribes) doesn’t give these comedy crusaders enough ammo to last the near 85 minutes of runtime. Director Miguel Artega keeps the pace taut in the film’s first half as characters are introduced and the big conflict is set-up. But then that lull after the first hour sets in (a problem for so many big-screen comedies), and the flick just can’t pick up steam once more. Perhaps that’s because some big “comic sequences” don’t have much of a pay-off. Case in point: a birthday party cooking class looked to mimic the BRIDESMAIDS digestion at the dress shop scene just fizzles out after much screeching and gross food foolishness. Perhaps the producers thought all could be saved by a big final minutes group song and dance number (sorry, nobody can cover an iconic Tina Turner tune), a cute cameo (it did make me smile for a bit), and a final plea for “girl power” togetherness. It’s a real shame because the cast is so talented, but LIKE A BOSS needed another few runs through the writers’ room. Cause you know what they say about putting lipstick on a …

2.5 Out of 4