R | 1h 37m | Comedy | 2026
The subject matter of “Spa Weekend” is ripe for comedic exploitation. Four women, besties since childhood, seek R&R, inner peace, facials, and possibly some romance. They celebrate one friend’s birthday by booking the “serenity villa” (instant beach access) at the posh Solaris Resort.
Director-writer duo Jon Lucas and Scott Moore’s “Bad Moms” (2016) was hilarious, so I was looking forward to their “Bad Moms”-esque “Spa Weekend.”
Also, three of the cast are movie comedy heavyweights, and one is a stand-up comedian. How could they lose? Unfortunately, the comedy dream team in “Spa Weekend” wasn’t able to land another “Bad Moms.”
Meet the Ladies
Jane (Leslie Mann), Coco (Michelle ), and Sophie (Anna Faris) attempt to insure their cozy weekend stays that way by failing to invite fourth friend Mel (Isla Fisher), (“that one person in a friend-group who none of the others like”). Mel’s got a history of being too much of an annoying, hell-raising, habitual troublemaker.
Lawyer and over-scheduled single mom Jane is unable to find love despite wanting a relationship. She gets a shot at some romance with hunky Aussie yoga instructor Kai (Adam Demos).
Coco’s got anger issues. As she explains, she’s biracial. Unfortunately that makes half of her an “angry black woman,” and the other half a “Karen.” It’s stretch to believe that her ex-husband Roger (Dominic Ona-Ariki) still has feelings for her.
Sophie’s the assistant of micro-managing, infantile, and narcissistic boss “the parking lot king.” She’s trying to keep him out of her mind. However, people-pleasing Sophie can’t help herself, quietly extends Mel an invitation.
Soon, loud, flamboyant Mel arrives hauling her margarita-making machine and a suitcase of sex toys. She’s immediately breaking spa rules, running her yap, and harshing her besties zen, as they attempt to relax with mud baths, meditation, and goat-yoga. She destroys a crystal display in the meditation room. All of the ladies find Mel’s destructive antics too much to deal with. Isla Fisher appears to have fun going as big as possible in the role.
Directors Moore and Lucas arrange additional tired antics, including Mel doing donuts on the manicured lawns in a golf cart while being chased by spa security.
Jane finds some romance with Kai, and Coco and ex-hubby rekindle their attraction after a mud fight in the mud bath that looks like it did a million dollars’ worth of spa damage.
Third Time’s Not a Charm
“Spa Weekend” has nothing that’s remotely new or innovative, and Mel and Coco’s nonstop potty-mouths and bawdiness soon grate. Spa-rampaging goats from the yoga class might have had potential on the page.
The sitcom-like scoring adds considerably to the inability of the audience to care for these two-dimensional characters, and Coco’s rage issues seem to belong in a different, non-comedic movie.
“Spa Weekend,” like light comedies “Bad Moms” and “The Other Woman” (also starring Leslie Mann) before it, ultimately attempts to be an empowerment tale. Unfortunately, there’s light comedy, and then there’s fluff. “Spa Weekend” is fluff.
‘Spa Weekend’
Directors: Jon Lucas, Scott Moore
Starring: Isla Fisher, Anna Faris, Leslie Mann, Michelle Buteau
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 1 hours, 37 minutes
Release Date: Aug. 21, 2026
Rating: 2 1/2 stars out of 5
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