In Connecticut, Stephanie (Kendrick) is a widowed single mother with adorable preschool-age son Miles (Satine) and a mommy video blog that's gaining popularity. Then she meets Emily (Lively), the high-powered mother of Miles' best friend Nicky (Ho), who lives in a glassy mansion with her writer husband Sean (Golding). Then after a few weeks of bonding, Emily asks Kendrick to watch Nicky after school. And she simply vanishes. The police are no help, so Stephanie begins using her now virally increased viewership to help work out what happened.

From here the plot spins with implications and innuendo as Stephanie uncovers each piece of information, while unexpected things keep happening around her. Each revelation sends her off in another direction, all while she juggles her son, her vlog and each of the tasks she volunteers to do in the community. Intriguingly, neither Stephanie nor Emily seem to have ever had a best girlfriend before, so their sudden separation is remarkably emotional. And this adds layers of meaning to what happens in other relationships.

Both lead performances are nuanced and involving, frequently catching the audience off guard. Kendrick is her usual witty-likeable self with added young-mother attitude, blending efficiency with self-doubt as she discovers that she's rather good at sleuthing. By contrast, Lively is a riotous force of nature, as Emily loves to shock with a combination of over-sharing and brazen lies. Even before the plot begins its snaky machinations, it's easy to see why these two women are drawn to each other.

Like most of Feig's filmography, this is a female-driven movie with men lingering on the edges. As Emily's husband, Golding keeps the audience guessing about whether he knows what's happening. And Rannells is hilarious a a gossipy parent. But this is Kendrick and Lively's show, and both are almost criminally engaging, even when the plot itself loses its momentum. Together with Feig's witty direction and Sharzer's snappy script (plus a soundtrack filled with catchy French pop), this is one of those guilty pleasure movies that almost feels like it's too much fun.

themes, language, violence, sexuality

29.Aug.18