'Like A Boss' A Review

Like A Boss is a buddy comedy about two make-up brand entrepreneur BFFs Mel and Mia(Rose Byrne and Tiffany Haddish) who have a killer product but failing business model. Enter cosmetics mogul Claire Luna(Selma Hayek) who offers to "partner" with Mel and Mia causing a rift in their friendship and the possible rending of their business.

Haddish brings her signature and colossal presence to bear and she has wonderful chemistry with Byrne who plays a meeker, more flawed kind of character then her usual upper-crust imperviousness or put-upon every-woman. They make a great duo and much of the pleasure of the film is found in the scenes of their casual friendship. The supporting cast is delightful particularly Billy Porter and Jennifer Coolidge as Mel and Mia's employees and Ari Graynor, Natasha Rothwell, and Jessica St. Clair as Mel and Mia's friends. Hayek also doesn't disappoint in her over-the-top Devil Wears Prada riff. Although there are moments of real delight overall the script fails to reach the potential of the outstanding cast.

This is the latest in director Miguel Arteta's odd but mostly engaging filmography and it's clear he created an atmosphere for real connection and improvisation for the actors as well as a couple intriguing action/comedy set pieces but was unable to overcome the paint-by-numbers script.

The themes of friendship and the commentary on personal beauty through the lens of Mel and Mia's particular cosmetics perspective come through but ultimately the mediocrity of the script prevents Like A Boss from really soaring.

Rent It.