Director: Miguel Arteta
Writer: Sam Pitman
Cast: Tiffany Haddish, Rose Byrne, Salma Hayek, and Billy Porter
Best friends and polar opposites Mia and Mel, find themselves in hot water as a major firm threatens to take over their growing makeup line. Hi-jinks ensue as the duo fight to save their business without sacrificing their friendship.
Director Miguel Arteta and writer Sam Pitman explore the complexity and fragility of female friendships, in this lighthearted buddy comedy. The story revolves around entrepreneurs Mia and Mel, who try to save their fledgling business by cutting a deal with ruthless mogul Claire Luna. With a promise to eliminate their debt and expand their brand, Luna lures them into a trap, to take over their company. In order for her dastardly plan to work she needs to break up their friendship. From the start, it is clear that Luna may have met her match. Mia and Mel do everything together. They work together, live together they even have booty calls together, and yet the potential for millions and an orange-haired psychopath are all it takes to nearly ending their relationship.
We all have had a Mia and or a Mel in our lives at one time or another. Mia is that friend that is the star of all of your most insane moments with Mel being that calm voice of reason that keeps you grounded. Tiffany Haddish is the reckless and creative Mia, her antics often stir up the best kind of trouble. Rose Byrne is the practical, easy-going Mel who often has to save the day. Their intense love for each other puts them in crazy predicaments including suspending from a railing in midair and jumping from a roof into a pool during a baby shower. Like real-life best friends their union is filled with secrets and resentments all of which come bursting to the surface once they’re under pressure. Salma Hayek is the ruthless Claire Luna, an eccentric mogul who sets her sights on controlling interest in their company as well as their enviable friendship. Luna is the typical bad girl Diva, dressed to kill and merciless. When not wielding a golf club like Thor’s hammer and terrorizing her doting assistant she’s plotting some crazy scheme. The creative team took full advantage of Hayek’s trademark accent by giving her a set of outrageous but perfect buck teeth forcing her to mispronounce words with hilarious effect. Scene stealers Billy Porter and Jennifer Coolidge provide some laughs as Mia and Mel’s employees. In one of our favorite scenes, Porter’s character gives us comic gold in one of the most dramatic firings ever.
Like a Boss is a fun fast-paced comedy that was tailor-made for girl’s night out. The premise is familiar and predictable, but the fun is in the journey. Every major plot point is formulaic and expected, it’s those little moments in between that add just enough freshness to make the film enjoyable. Lastly, the movie ends with a cameo from one of America’s favorite “Friends” check out the film to find out who.
Like A Boss hits theaters on Friday, January 10, 2020.