Susan Granger’s review of “Like a Boss” (Paramount Pictures)
It’s unconscionable in this day and age to release a female-led buddy comedy that’s this misogynistic and sexist in its interpretation of female empowerment.
Best friends since Middle School, enterprising Mia (Tiffany Haddish) and Mel (Rose Byrne) run a small cosmetics shop. Mixing their own artisanal formulas and marketing them in gimmicky gift packages, they enjoy modest success with their employee – gay Barrett (Billy Porter) and divorced Sydney (Jennifer Coolidge).
While Mia comes up with ideas like the single-use make-up kit called “One Night Stand”, Mel tries to keep the books. Problem is: their business is $500,000 in debt!
Enter Josh (Karan Soni), representing mercenary Claire Luna (Salma Hayek), who offers to clear their debts in return for 51% of their business. Mia’s unhappy with giving anyone 51%, so they settle for Claire owning 49% unless, of course, Mia and Mel dissolve their partnership.
Immediately, nasty Claire, golf club in hand, begins sowing nefarious discord between Mia and Mel and asserting her influence by urging: “Inspire the ugly people to buy their way into gorgeousness.”
Jennifer Coolidge’s Sydney delivers the best zinger, describing Salma Hayek’s Claire as looking like “an angry carrot.”
It’s painfully obvious that the R-rated, raunchy script was written by two men – Sam Pitman and Adam Cole-Kelly – and directed by a third – Miguel Arteta. And no one in this testosterone trio seems to have a clue either about the beauty business or how women behave at baby showers.
Their depiction of a celebratory cake with a newborn’s head popping out of a bloody vagina boggles the mind!
Lisa Kudrow does a cameo as Claire’s former partner, while Jessica St. Clair, Ari Graynor, Natasha Rothwell and Jacob Lattimore lend some much-needed support, along with Ryan Hansen and Jimmy O. Yang.
On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “Like a Boss” is a frisky 4, filled with reprehensible stereotypes.
