Second Act Review

by Myla Tosatto

While watching a good Lifetime or Hallmark Channel movie, have you ever thought to yourself- “Gee, I wish I could watch a saltier version of this on the big screen? Maybe starring the luminous Jennifer Lopez and one of her best gal pals, Leah Remini? Maybe throw in the dad from This is Us, you know, the guy Rory Gilmore should have chosen?” You have. I know you have. I read my Facebook and Movie Myla Twitter feeds. I see what all of you write. Be sure to check out the best Second Act Quotes.

Well, guess what? You get your wish in the new movie Second Act. Lopez stars as Maya, a street smart assistant manager who can’t get promoted at her retail store because she lacks a college diploma. Remini is her sassy sidekick that gives her the encouragement she needs. Milo Ventimiligia is her understanding boyfriend that would be even more understanding if she would just be honest with him. Maya’s professional wishes come true when she is hired by Anderson Clarke (Treat Williams) and Zoe (Vanessa Hudgens). She teams up with Arianna (Charlyne Yi), Chase (Alan Aisenberg) and Hildy (Annaleigh Ashford) at her new high powered job. The movie written by Justin Zackham and Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and directed by Peter Segal has a Working Girl, 1980’s vibe.

This is more than just a movie about a woman getting the shot she deserves. It IS that, to be sure, but it swerves into a whole different territory that I wasn’t expecting. NO SPOILERS, though.

This is definitely a female empowerment film. It passes the Bechdel Test with flying colors. Besides some choice four letter words, it’s one that you can see with middle schoolers and on up. There is a lot of cursing but no sexual content or violence.

Second Act is now playing in theaters!