Second Act (2018)

Most movies get adoption issues wrong. Second Act is one of those which messes it up completely. The film otherwise would have been a B-rate in the acting, writing, direction pretty much everything. But it's treatment of the issue of adoption sealed the deal for me. That paired with it's anti-intellectualism strain made it almost impossible to enjoy.

I say almost because there were moments I found myself laughing at certain jokes. Mostly this happened when co-star Leah Remini was on screen. The rest of the time the formulaic tone as well as the film's ethical missteps just make it a disaster.

Second Act felt like the sort of film that would have been a bigger hit in the 90s when these sorts of gimmicky formula rom-coms got more traction. But, as Maya Angelou says when you know better you do better, and we know a whole lot better now. Wild coincidences, overt generalizations, stock characters, and cliches just don't make for a fun time at the movies anymore.

Second Act
Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Vanessa Hudgens, Leah Remini, Annaaleigh Ashford, Milo Vetimiglia, Treat Williams
Director: Peter Segal
Writers: Justin Zackham, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas