Beautiful women, smart humor, really fun to watch – what’s not to like? The Other Woman is the perfect antidote to “summer’s almost over” and other forms of the blues. First there’s Cameron Diaz. Cameron has aged a bit, but it’s not really that big of a stretch to remember her hair gel scene in There’s Something About Mary. In other words, in addition to being actually gorgeous and having those impossibly blue eyes, she’s still an adept comedienne. In The Other Woman, she plays a lawyer, Carly, dating a man she finds out to be a married (Mark, played smarmily by the dashing Nikolaj Coster-Waldau). Mark is married to Kate, and I for one am totally delighted that Leslie Mann is paired with that role. She is presented as a bit frumpy in the way that real people are, but her beauty is undeniable. She also excels at comedy and is often the show stealer.
Okay, so far we have the husband and the unknowing mistress, and not too far into the movie, Mark’s two women meet. But there’s actually a third woman — the voluptuous Kate Upton plays Amber — who agrees with the other two that revenge must be had. And so it goes.
Who should be at its helm but the unlikely Nick Cassavetes, love child of Gena Rowlands and the great master of cinema verite and cinema in general, John Cassavetes. Nick has directed a couple of other less comedic films, such as the heavily dramatic She’s So Lovely and the weepy My Sister’s Keeper. In 1996, his first film as a director was Unhook the Stars, where he had the good fortune to have guided his mom, Gerard Depardieu, and Marisa Tomei in the creation of what was a small gem of a movie. See it, if you haven’t already. But anyway, in The Other Woman Nick tries his hand at comedy and fares outstandingly well.
Supporting cast members include Miami Vice’s own Don Johnson as Carly’s father (!), and a droll and very cool Nicki Minaj as Carly’s assistant.
I can’t really say enough good things about this viewing experience. The acting is great, costuming is wonderful, and locations provide a good backdrop for the story to unfold.
Is this a chick flick? Yeah, probably a little, but it is so widely appealing that I wouldn’t limit it to that label. It’s PG-13, but gives you everything you need. If you have to have slapstick, physical humor or raunch, those kinds of humor make an appearance as well.
Best comedy in a long time. Top New Release. Just see it, already. – [DVD] [Blu-Ray]
Comedy/Romance
Rated PG-13
DVD Release Date: 7/29/14
