Written by Mallory Delchamp
While I am the first to admit my love for a light-hearted romantic comedy I do feel that Netflix and the box office are over saturated with the genre. Hence why The Other Woman, the latest from director Nick Cassavetes is a breath of fresh air. In a movie market filled with “buddy” films (21 Jump Street, The Hangover, etc.) it is nice to see a film that has the personality and feel of the beloved rom-com yet focuses on a friendship between three women. The Other Woman is a simple and sweet film ideal for fans of Bride Wars and Sex and the City.
While the trailer excels at informing the audience of what the film is all about, The Other Woman still manages to entertain and surprise.
The film tells the story of a thirty-something career woman named Carly (Cameron Diaz) who is seeing a handsome man named Mark (Game of Throne’s Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and as soon as she begins to think that their relationship heading for “something special” she learns that he is married. Like any decent chick flick there is a twist; not only is he married but he is also dating several other woman including a young twenty-something named Amber. Carly manages to befriend the wife, Kate (Leslie Mann) and Amber and the three women set out to sabotage the cheating womanizer. From feeding him female hormones to filling his shampoo bottles with Nair the team of revenge-seeking women manage to make Mark’s life a living hell and the unfaithful husband eventually receives what he rightfully deserves.
Diaz, Upton, and Mann all shine in their roles but Leslie Mann definitely steals the show as the quirky and lovable Kate King. She gives a unique and authentic comedic performance with animated facial expressions but also captures the vulnerability of a woman in a doomed marriage. Cameron Diaz is reprising the role we have seen her play time and time again of the bitter, heart-broken leading lady which she has mastered. Kate Upton seems to play herself in the film offering ditzy one-liners like “I know, let’s kick him in the balls!” Nicki Minaj (and her many wigs!) provides comic relief as Carly’s loyal secretary, Lydia and I was pleasantly surprised at her ability to hold her own amongst a group of established film actors. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau plays the handsome, two-timing Mark and manages to gain sympathy from the audience up until the last thirty minutes of the film. The chemistry and comedic timing between the three leading ladies is worth taking note of. Diaz, Upton, and Mann play well off of each other and there are several scenes reminiscent of The Three Stooges complete with plenty of outrageous physical comedy. The film is smart and original. It avoids pointless jabber and instead provides clever dialogue and has several hilarious moments between Diaz and Mann’s characters.
Bottom line: Don’t look to The Other Woman in search of a thought-provoking film instead enjoy it for what it is- a witty, funny, and fun-loving feature fit for any girls night.
