Like a Boss

Like a Boss inspired a lot of questions in me.  I asked myself, does anyone really find it funny when movies depict supposedly intelligent working women as shrieking morons who constantly engage in unfunny slapstick?  And why is it that whenever talented indie film directors get attached to big studio projects (In this case, the director is Miguel Artea, responsible for such films as Chuck and Buck and Beatriz at Dinner.), they seem to lose all sense of filmmaking? 

The answers eluded me, but at least they kept my mind occupied while I was watching this witless mess that, even at 83 minutes, barely seems to have enough ideas to fill a full-length feature.  This is a raunchy comedy targeting women that teams up Tiffany Haddish and Rose Byrne, who both work tirelessly to lift up a script they seem to know is lame, but to little avail.  Both of these actresses have had success in "women gone wild" comedies in the past, with Haddish standing out in Girls Trip, and Byrne appearing in Bridesmaids.  Maybe the filmmakers thought putting them together would generate some laughs.  They're definitely making an effort, and throw themselves into their roles.  But we just don't laugh, because despite their valiant efforts, they're just not given anything funny to say, nor do they create memorable characters or chemistry with one another.

The two are Mia (Haddish) and Mel (Byrne), best friends since middle school who, despite being well into their 30s, still live like they're in their early 20s.  They're roommates, have no intention of settling down and starting a family, drink frequently and smoke pot when they can, and basically have a string of sexual flings walking through their shared apartment.  The two are such good friends, they even own a business together.  Back in college, they started a cosmetics company out of their garage, and now they run a small business.  Naturally, they are deep in debt, and will be forced to close down in about six months unless things improve.  Enter the ruthless beauty tycoon, Claire Luna (Salma Hayek), a cartoonishly evil woman who offers to wipe out their debt in exchange for 49% of the company.

Claire Luna is such an exaggerated stereotype of a heartless and successful business woman that it's only natural that she has nefarious plans for the two friends.  She intends to turn Mia and Mel against each other, so that they will give up on their company, and Claire will have total control.  We're forced to watch these talented actresses slog through contrived and unfunny misunderstandings that turn the life-long friends into screaming harpies that are always at each other's throats, and engage in unfunny physical and rude comedy scenarios.  And just like a lot of raunchy, adult comedies, Like a Boss decides to go all soft and mushy near the end, and we get a lot of tear-filled scenes where the two women realize how important their friendship really is, and the importance of sisterhood.  This is all pretty standard, but it's given an extra level of desperation when you know what these women are capable of in better projects.

This is a movie that seems to have little clue how to approach its scenario or its characters.  Are we supposed to admire Mia and Mel for their friendship or loyalty, or are they supposed to come across as stuck in their ways, and they need to grow up?  The film seems to want to have it both ways.  We also learn very little about the cutthroat world of cosmetics that it is set in, but is mostly used as a backdrop.  And why does everyone in this movie have to be such an over the top caricature?  A little bit of honesty to these people might have made the script's change in tone from broad comedy to forced drama a bit more believable.  The only performance worth noting here is Billy Porter, who plays one of Mia and Mel's employees, and gets the film's single funny moment when he reacts to the fact that he's been fired after Claire Luna takes over.

Like a Boss is the kind of flimsy, forgettable fare that the month of January was made for.  No one will remember this two months from now, which is for the best.  I'm sure everyone involved will move past this as quickly as possible, and I encourage them wholeheartedly.

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