Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Latest
    • 3627. I Believe In Miracles (2015)
    • 3626. The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)
    • 3625. Ode To Joy (2019)
    • 3624. One Chance (2013)
    • 3623. Falling For Figaro (2020)
    • 3622. The Polka King (2017)
    • 3621. Spies In Disguise (2019)
    • 3620. Friendzone (2021)
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Home
    • Blog
      • All Posts
      • Best Of The Year
        • Best Of 2015
        • Best Of 2016
        • Best Of 2017
        • Best Of 2018
        • Best Of 2019
        • Best Of 2020
        • Best Of 2021
        • Best Of 2022
      • The Decade In Review
      • Box Office Analysis
      • James Bond
      • Oscars
      • RANKED
      • Star Wars
      • The Big Questions
      • Top 10
      • World Cinema
    • Ratings
      • Top 250
      • Top 100 Foreign Films
      • Bottom 50
      • 0 – 1.9
      • 2 – 3.9
      • 4 – 5.9
      • 6 – 7.9
      • 8 – 10
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Anthology
      • Animation
      • Christmas
      • Comedy
      • Crime
      • Documentary
      • Drama
      • Fantasy
      • Film-Noir
      • History
      • Horror
      • Kids’
      • Musical
      • Psychological
      • Romance
      • Sci-Fi
      • Short
      • Silent
      • Sport
      • Superhero
      • Survival
      • Thriller
      • Western
    • Release Year
      • 2020s
      • 2010s
      • 2000s
      • 1990s
      • 1980s
      • 1970s
      • 1960s
      • 1950s
      • 1940s
      • 1930s
      • 1920s
    • Country
      • Afghanistan
      • Argentina
      • Australia
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Brazil
      • Cambodia
      • Canada
      • Chile
      • China
      • Colombia
      • Costa Rica
      • Czechoslovakia
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • East Timor
      • Faroe Islands
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Georgia
      • Greece
      • Hong Kong
      • Hungary
      • Iceland
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Iran
      • Iraq
      • Ireland
      • Israel
      • Italy
      • Japan
      • Latvia
      • Lebanon
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Mexico
      • New Zealand
      • Nigeria
      • North Korea
      • Norway
      • Paraguay
      • Peru
      • Philippines
      • Poland
      • Romania
      • Russia
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Singapore
      • South Korea
      • South Africa
      • Soviet Union
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • Syria
      • Taiwan
      • Thailand
      • Turkey
      • Uganda
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
      • Uruguay
      • Vietnam
      • Zambia
    • About
    The Mad Movie Man
    You are at:Home»Review»2762. Second Act (2018)

    2762. Second Act (2018)

    0
    By The Mad Movie Man on November 25, 2019 100-109 mins, 2018, 6 - 7.9, Comedy, Drama, Movies Of 2019, Nov 19, Review, United States
    6.8 Enjoyable, albeit a little far-fetched
    • Acting 7.1
    • Directing 6.8
    • Story 6.6
    • User Ratings (0 Votes) 0

    Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Vanessa Hudgens, Leah Remini

    Director: Peter Segal

    Running Time: 103 mins

    Second Act is an American film about a middle-aged woman who, after having never managed to find a good job despite her business talents, gets a second chance at success when a friend writes up a fake CV for her, and helps her into a major role at a cosmetics company.

    There’s nothing awfully terrible about Second Act, and while it’s hardly the world’s most engrossing comedy-drama, or even the most convincing story, it tells a suprisingly earnest and genuine tale of hard work, following a woman who, despite her talents, has never had the chance to show her stuff where it really counts.

    From that, it’s fairly clear what sort of film Second Act is. A little cheesy, moderately inspiring, but most of all impressively good at heart. It’s not a generic, faux tale of inspiration, and although there are parts of its screenplay that do come across as a little far-fetched, its core story about a middle-aged woman finally finding the opportunity to show her talents is really rather nice to see.

    Jennifer Lopez is entirely likable in the lead role, once again showing her talents when playing more mature characters than what she was best known for in the past, and in terms of portraying that impressively genuine drama that’s at the heart of the story, she does a great job throughout, really getting you on side to will her on in the face of the numerous unfair obstacles she comes up against.

    Her co-stars don’t impress on screen quite to the same degree, something that’s also symptomatic of playing characters which often play little more than the role of plot devices, but Lopez is a great lead in a film that effectively boils down to a one-woman tale.

    The screenplay’s pleasantly genuine drama is absolutely the film’s greatest strength, because other parts of the story unfortunately get trapped in a few too many generic Hollywood tropes, dragging what at times is a very modern story back in time to following a predictable, cheesy story line.

    In that, there are a few rather far-fetched story twists and elements that, although perfectly nice, don’t have the same genuine emotional power as the rest of the film, and really take away from your connection and engagement with the characters and story, particularly towards the final act.

    And on top of that, the film doesn’t quite impress when it comes to the comedic side of things. Second Act still achieves its main goal in delivering a genuine and moderately inspiring dramatic story, but it really isn’t as funny or even charismatic as it thinks. So, when the movie takes an admittedly needed comedic break from time to time, it really falls down, failing to entertain or engross to the same extent as its fairly engaging story.

    Overall, then, I liked Second Act to a degree, and despite underwhelming comedy, some far-fetched plot elements and less-than-stellar supporting performances, it impresses with pleasantly genuine and heartwarming drama, as well as a mature and likable lead turn from Jennifer Lopez, which is why I’m giving it a 6.8.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Website
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    The Mad Movie Man, AKA Anthony Cullen, writes articles and reviews about movies and the world of cinema. Since January 1st, 2013, he has watched and reviewed a movie every day. This is the blog dedicated to the project: www.madmovieman.com

    Related Posts

    7.1

    3627. I Believe In Miracles (2015)

    5.8

    3626. The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)

    7.9

    3625. Ode To Joy (2019)

    Follow Me Online!
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Tumblr
    New Releases
    5.3
    January 17, 2022

    3620. Friendzone (2021)

    7.1
    January 10, 2022

    3612. The Lost Daughter (2021)

    8.0
    January 7, 2022

    3609. Licorice Pizza (2021)

    7.2
    January 7, 2022

    3608. Lamb (2021)

    7.4
    December 30, 2021

    3599. The King’s Man (2021)

    6.3
    December 29, 2021

    3598. The Matrix Resurrections (2021)

    8.4
    December 28, 2021

    3597. West Side Story (2021)

    6.3
    December 27, 2021

    3596. Gunpowder Milkshake (2021)

    Recommended Movies
    8.3
    Review
    March 13, 20140

    486. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

    8.1
    Review
    February 14, 20170

    1660. A Man Called Ove (2016)

    8.0
    Review
    May 26, 20210

    3359. Nomadland (2020)

    8.7
    Review
    July 11, 20130

    218. One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

    8.0
    Review
    May 4, 20210

    3336. Adaptation. (2002)

    Popular Posts
    7.1
    January 24, 2022

    3627. I Believe In Miracles (2015)

    5.8
    January 23, 2022

    3626. The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)

    7.9
    January 22, 2022

    3625. Ode To Joy (2019)

    7.4
    January 21, 2022

    3624. One Chance (2013)

    6.3
    January 20, 2022

    3623. Falling For Figaro (2020)

    7.5
    January 19, 2022

    3622. The Polka King (2017)

    6.0
    January 18, 2022

    3621. Spies In Disguise (2019)

    © 2022 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.