THE OTHER WOMAN – The Review

In the all new 20th Century Fox comedy THE OTHER WOMAN directer Nick Cassavetes takes a new approach to the classic cheater story that we’ve all seen before… but does it work?

Carly (Cameron Diaz) is a strong, independent New Yorker lawyer who has finally traded in her little black book for Mark (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), a handsome, well dressed man who has swept her off her feet. She seems to have everything going for her… until she accidentally meets Mark’s wife Kate (Leslie Mann). With nowhere else to go Kate tracks down Carly, and the two slowly turn their pain into an unlikely friendship, that turns into a trio after discovering a third woman in the mix. Together Carly, Kate, and now Amber (Kate Upton) team up to teach Mark a lesson once and for all, and exact revenge on their three-timing man.

First, this film needs to be taken for what it is – a comedic chick flick that sets out to empower women. This isn’t one of those movies with a hidden message, everything is laid out for the audience. The film takes a light-hearted approach at holding the cheating party, rather than the unknowing mistress accountable. All too often anger is aimed at the wrong person, and this film sets out to point that out. It’s also about friendship, and the rare bond that the girls form under a devastating circumstance. Mostly, it’s just one of those films that you go to with your girlfriends for a good laugh.

Cameron Diaz and Leslie Mann have an incredible chemistry together. Both are no strangers to comedy, and it shows. Their scenes together are what carry this film. I was also quite impressed with Kate Upton. Not only is her character likable, but she holds her own with Diaz and Mann… in her first film! That is quite an achievement. I think Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (‘Game Of Thrones’) also deserves some credit. Not only was his character put through the ringer, but he plays a convincing womanizer in this film. He paired nicely with the ladies, and complimented them well.

Despite the girls bringing the laughs, the story could have been a little stronger. I feel like it was only secondary to the comedy. Diaz, Mann, and Upton’s interactions, jokes, and physical comedy took center stage, while the story of adultery and betrayal faded into the background until the last fourth of the movie where they start to take their revenge. I don’t expect a deep, meaningful script, but I would like a little more than laughs to carry this film. If this story is really about friendship, then a few more heartfelt moments between the girls would have been nice to see. Also, I think they should have concentrated a bit more on Mark’s financial deviancy, and making him even more unlikeable. This would have, at least for me, made the last part of their revenge a little more enjoyable. It also went a little too slapstick towards the end, which doesn’t mesh with the tone of the first half of the movie. These women are funny enough on their own. For example, they don’t have to show Mark’s reaction to laxatives as it’s happening. Instead, they could have simply implied his bathroom ordeal, rather than showing his freak out on the toilet. At least then it would have fit with the comedic tone of first half of the film.

Even though there are problems with the story, THE OTHER WOMAN is still a fun, lighthearted film to go see with your friends. Oh, and ladies… if you want to bring a date with you just, tell them “that guy from ‘Game Of Thrones’ is in it. You’re welcome.

OVERALL RATING : 3.25 out of 5 stars

FOR MORE INFO:
WEBSITE: http://theotherwomanmovie.com/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheOtherWomanMovie
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/OtherWomanMovie

THE OTHER WOMAN opens in theaters April 25