Spa Weekend: Release, Premise and Critical Reception

“Spa Weekend” is a R-rated comedy written and directed by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, the creators of *The Hangover* and *Bad Moms*. The story follows three single-mom friends—Jane (Leslie Mann), Coco (Michelle Buteau) and Sophie (Anna Faris)—who travel to a luxury health-spa retreat for a weekend break. Their plans are upended when their unpredictable former best friend Mel (Isla Fisher) arrives, bringing chaos that includes a broken crystal, a stolen golf cart, and a goat-yoga stunt. The film opened in Australian cinemas on 20 August and in the United Kingdom and United States on 21 August.

Radio Times

Lucas and Moore first achieved major success nearly two decades ago with the stag-weekend comedy *The Hangover*. After later directing the female-focused *Bad Moms* franchise, they returned to the ensemble-vacation format with “Spa Weekend,” positioning it as a female-centric counterpart to their earlier male-oriented work.

The Guardian

The film has generated a sharply divided response.

WDIV - ClickOnDetroit

• TheWrap repeatedly characterizes the movie as “low-effort, low-impact,” criticizing its reliance on bawdy humor that “misfires” and calling the jokes “perfunctory.” The outlet also observes that the cast—though composed of “brilliant comedians”—cannot salvage the material.

The Wrap

• Radio Times assigns a star rating of 2 out of 5, summarizing the plot as a “women-gone-wild comedy” that “misses the mark” on satire and relies on clichés about middle-aged women.

Radio Times

• ClickOnDetroit’s reviewer Greg Russell notes that the ensemble “plays out very well” and suggests the movie has “universal appeal” for anyone who has taken a trip with friends.

WDIV - ClickOnDetroit

• “Half the time, the hardest part of this job for me personally was trying not to laugh as I’m entering a scene,” — Adam Demos.

Woman's World

• “It’s going to be a lot of action that’s going on in this film,” — Greg Russell.

WDIV - ClickOnDetroit

• “Oh, it plays out very well,” — Greg Russell.

WDIV - ClickOnDetroit

These comments reflect the filmmakers’ and reviewers’ perspectives on the film’s tone and audience reception.

Radio Times

• Release dates: 20 August (Australia) and 21 August (UK and US).

The Guardian

• Rating: R (per Radio Times).

Radio Times

• Star rating: 2 out of 5.

WDIV - ClickOnDetroit

Sources differ markedly on whether “Spa Weekend” succeeds as comedy. Woman’s World and ClickOnDetroit emphasize its humor and broad appeal, while The Guardian, TheWrap and Radio Times criticize its lack of sharp satire and reliance on crude jokes. No source provides audience box-office figures or detailed demographic data, leaving the film’s commercial performance and viewer reception unquantified.

Radio Times

---

Woman's World