Full Breakdown
“Spa Weekend” – A Female-Led Comedy From the “Bad Moms” Team
8/21/2026, 7:59:28 AM
Core Event
“Spa Weekend,” a 97-minute R-rated comedy starring Leslie Mann, Anna Faris, Michelle Buteau and Isla Fisher, opened in Australian cinemas on August 20 and in the United Kingdom and United States on August 21. The plot follows four longtime friends—lawyer Jane (Mann), over-worked PA Sophie (Faris), recently divorced Coco (Buteau) and chaotic “wild child” Mel (Fisher)—who travel to a luxury Palm Springs-style resort for Jane’s birthday. Their getaway quickly devolves into a series of raucous set-pieces, including goat yoga, a stripper party, and a golf-cart chase, while each character confronts a personal dilemma.
Background & Context
The film is written and directed by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, the duo behind the 2009 hit *The Hangover* and the *Bad Moms* franchise. In a pre-release interview, Moore recalled that his and Lucas’s wives expressed a desire for a simple day off with friends, which sparked the film’s premise. Lucas added that “spa culture” offered fertile ground for satire, prompting the pair to “tear it up” after an initially “boring” idea.
Data & Statistics
- Runtime: 1 hour 37 minutes (97 minutes).
- Rating: R (contains profanity, drug use, sexual content).
- Release dates: August 20 2026 (Australia); August 21 2026 (UK & US).
- Principal cast: Leslie Mann (Jane), Anna Faris (Sophie), Michelle Buteau (Coco), Isla Fisher (Mel).
- Supporting roles: Adam Demos as yoga instructor Kai; Erika Heynatz as resort guru Shanti; Dominic Ona-Ariki as ex-husband Roger.
- Filming location: Queensland, Australia (standing in for a California-coastal resort).
Criticism & Opposition
Several reviewers criticized the film’s execution despite its strong cast. *Radio Times* gave it 2 out of 5 stars, noting that the film “missed the opportunity” for sharper satire and relied on “clichés” and “thin jokes.” *RTE* described the script as “wafer-thin” and said the humor “fails to land.” Collectively, these critiques suggest the film falls short of the comedic standards set by the creators’ earlier work.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We definitely got into a lot of intimate conversations,” — Isla Fisher — Isla Fisher, USA Today
- “You lost your home in the fires,” — Isla Fisher — Isla Fisher, USA Today
- “Please tell all your friends and tell your friends to tell [their] friends,” — Michelle Buteau — Michelle Buteau, USA Today
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Critical reception is divided. While *The Guardian*, *RogersMovieNation*, *Radio Times* and *RTE* highlight the film’s lack of humor and reliance on stale jokes, outlets such as *Punchdrunk Critics* and *The Jam Report* describe it as “pleasantly silly,” praising the chemistry of the four leads and noting that the movie remains “easy to enjoy” despite familiar premises. No source provides audience box-office data, leaving the commercial impact of the release undocumented.
What’s Next
No future screenings, sequels, or related projects have been announced by the filmmakers or the studio.
