Starring: Cameron Diaz and Leslie Mann
Directed by: Nick Cassavetes
Rated: PG
Running time: 1 hour 41 mins
20th Century Fox
Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars
She’s often been among the best things in films directed or produced by her husband, Judd Apatow. “Knocked Up.” “Funny People.” “This is 40.” But with her performance in “The Other Woman,” Leslie Mann becomes a star.
Carly (Diaz) and Mark (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) meet and immediately hook up. Eight weeks later, things are going good. Good enough for Carly to want to introduce Mark to her dad. Well, ALMOST good enough. Mark begs off from the meeting due to a broken pipe at home. When Carly decides to surprise him she herself is surprised when the door at home is answered by Kate (Mann). Mark’s wife.
A fun, slapstick comedy, “The Other Woman” is not only a showcase for Mann, but the film lets Cameron Diaz do what she does so well, yet not so often…be funny. Here she’s almost a supporting character, but she’s so good it doesn’t matter. This is the Cameron Diaz of “There’s Something About Mary” and “The Sweetest Thing.”
The film is really a series of mishaps, as Kate conflicts with Carly (and herself) as to how to deal with Mark. Things get even more complicated when the girls meet Amber (Kate Upton), who it turns out is the OTHER “other” woman and Mark’s latest honey. The three decide to join forces to teach the wayward hubby a lesson in life and love. “Tough Love” style.
If I have a quibble with the film, it has to do with some of the story line. My understanding was that this film was planned and filmed as an “R” rated, “Bridesmaids” type of movie. But, somewhere along the line, the filmmakers decided to trust what they had (script and actors). The results are funny without being raunchy. Despite the three leading ladies listed above, a tip of the cap also to Coster-Waldau (“Game of Thrones”), who is not only charming but a really good sport, having to endure some rather embarrassing situations. Director Cassavetes, son of the late, great filmmaker John Cassavetes and his wife, the lovely Gena Rowlands, has done a fine job of crafting together a true “screwball” comedy, one that should keep you still laughing long after the film is over.