Review: The Other Woman

It’s a sad fact that there aren’t many comedies starring women for women. The film industry is saturated with cheap, testosterone-laden romps for men, while women are subjected to round after round of predictable romantic comedies. That tide changed in 2011 with the release of Bridesmaids. Since then, there have been more efforts to capitalize on the very real talent of the many comediennes working in the industry. From Bad Teacher to The Heat, we’re seeing an increase in female-centric comedies. This past weekend, 21^st Century Fox added to this growing sub-genre of comedy with The Other Woman.

In The Other Woman, Cameron Diaz plays Carly Whitten, a successful businesswoman who discovers the man she’s been dating is married. Leslie Mann takes on the role of the aforementioned man’s wife, Kate. Rather than devolve into the clichés that surround affairs, the film takes a different route by having Carly and Kate form an unlikely friendship. Together, they plot the ruination of the poor shmuck who thought it was okay to sleep around like some wannabe lothario.

As always, Diaz delivers a satisfying comedic performance. She’s a veteran to the genre and knows just what to do. In fact, her role here is very reminiscent of the now-classic chick flick The Sweetest Thing. Similarly, Mann gives it her all and then some as the kooky wife. She commands every scene she’s in and draws in the most laughs. From her zany dialogue to her extreme physicality, Mann delivers one hell of a performance. Ultimately, these actresses are what drive this film. The costuming may be gorgeous (it should be since Patricia Field handled it), the settings may be lush, and the plot may be mildly amusing, but it’s truly the chemistry between Diaz and Mann that elevate this film’s entertainment value. It may not be on the same level as Bridesmaids, but it’s certainly got more going for it than Identity Thief or any of Jennifer Aniston's attempts at comedy. Interestingly, Diaz and Mann aren’t the only scene-stealers in this film. No, I’m not taking about Kate Upton and her rather distracting neo-Pamela Anderson circa Baywatch moments. I'm talking about Nicki Minaj. Minaj plays Diaz’s straight-talking assistant Lydia. While her wigs look great and her outfits are incredibly stylish, Minaj’s line delivery and overall presence are rather impressive. Truthfully, the film could have used more of Lydia. It would have been everything if she had gotten in on the scheming.

The fact that The Other Woman was a box office success is no fluke. The combined forces of Cameron Diaz and Leslie Mann created an endearing on-film chemistry. The movie is funny and, as a comedy, that’s exactly what it needs to be. It’s not a long-winded period drama or a nearly three hour superhero adventure, so the fact that The Other Woman frees itself from the cliché that women can’t get along is a success in and of itself. With comedies in such short supply this summer, The Other Woman could very well end up being the best of the bunch. It also proves that Nicki Minaj may very well have a budding film career on her hands.

Rating: B