With the three Hollywood actresses Salma Hayek (53, "Frida"), Tiffany Haddish (40, "Girls Trip") and Rose Byrne (40, "Bad Neighbors") is the comedy "Lady Business", which starts on March 12 can be seen in German cinemas with three power ladies. But a strong cast does not always make a film a hit …
That's what "Lady Business" is all about
Mia (Tiffany Haddish) and Mel (Rose Byrne) are best friends, live together and have set up their own business: their cosmetics company. However, this is close to bankruptcy. How practical that the wealthy cosmetics manufacturer Claire Luna (Salma Hayek) is made aware of the small business and makes an offer to the friends that they cannot refuse.
Luna’s demands put the friendship of the two to the test – and one after another quickly arises. It seems that the ice-cold investor has driven a wedge between the friends. Can you find each other again and save your beauty company?
Clichéd friendship comedy with foreseeable action
"Lady Business" is a classic American comedy that has clear parallels to a love comedy. It's just not a couple in love that has to overcome differences, but a duo of friends.
At the beginning of the film, the viewer learns about the unique connection between the two main characters: they have been close friends since school and go through thick and thin together. In contrast to their friends, who now have husbands and children, the two love their freedom and are "modern" business women: in addition to occasional sex adventures, they live for their business. Parties and the associated drugs are also part of the lives of best friends who share everything with each other – they even tell each other about their erotic dreams, in which the former US President Barack Obama (58) can also play a role.
The intimate friendship between two women, who are not only different on the outside, is celebrated in the film. Mel, played by Rose Byrne, is a rather shy and determined businesswoman, while the creative Mia, portrayed by Tiffany Haddish, is particularly striking due to her cheeky mouth. The friendship, however, could have been presented more profoundly.
The intriguing Claire Luna, who embodies Salma Hayek, appears as a confident and calculating entrepreneur who likes to dress sexy: the female counterpart to an egocentric, good-looking boss. She purposely puts stones in the way of the duo and always demands new product ideas. There is a big argument – with everything that goes with a comedy: even chili is mixed into the food.
The film literally plays with clichés. It is about women who work in the cosmetics industry and want to be successful. Women and beauty obviously belong together – why not let them start a tech start-up? The small start-up's only male employee is the gay, eccentric Barrett (Billy Porter, 50). How should it be different in the cosmetics industry? Also not to be missed is a saleswoman who shows visible traces of cosmetic surgery. It is played by Jennifer Coolidge (58, "American Pie").
Jokes under the belt
Not only clichés and the predictable plot characterize the film – but above all jokes under the belt. Mia's extreme expressions of force occur in every sentence, which makes them seem immature and exhausting in the long run, instead of producing the well-intended "cool" effect. In addition, the exaggerated facial expressions and gestures of actress Tiffany Haddish, which exaggerates the whole thing theatrically. The film does not rely on well-thought-out jokes, but rather clumsy word battles that are hardly humorous.
The fact that women have sexist sayings on their lips like men is sufficiently emphasized in the film. The emancipated friends also have a permissive sex life: Mia has a hot affair with a younger man.
Should the film show that women can behave just like men? Why is it that you take self-centered machos and their sexist slogans as models? Is a cake that looks like a female reproductive organ really amusing? Or the fact of putting a joint in bed with a baby and taking a photo of it? The result: two women who behave like teenagers and film scenes that are rather embarrassing rather than providing entertainment.
Conclusion
"Lady Business" is supposed to be a feminist comedy that stands for female power, emancipation and the power of true friendship. However, the message moves into the background through the fecal language and clumsy, exaggerated scenes. The comedy offers nothing that is not already known from other films. Even starring with Salma Hayek, Tiffany Haddish, and Rose Byrne can't make this Hollywood comedy more palatable.