Like a Boss (film)

Like a Boss is a 2020 American comedy film directed by Miguel Arteta, written by Sam Pitman and Adam Cole-Kelly, and starring Tiffany Haddish, Rose Byrne, and Salma Hayek. The plot follows two friends who attempt to take control of their cosmetics company back from an industry titan.

Like a Boss
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMiguel Arteta
Produced by
Screenplay by
  • Sam Pitman
  • Adam Cole-Kelly
Story by
  • Sam Pitman
  • Adam Cole-Kelly
  • Danielle Sanchez-Witzel
Starring
Music by
CinematographyJas Shelton
Edited byJay Deuby
Production
company
Artists First
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • January 7, 2020 (2020-01-07) (New York City)
  • January 10, 2020 (2020-01-10) (United States)
Running time
83 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$29 million[1]
Box office$30.4 million[1]

The film was theatrically released in the United States on January 10, 2020, by Paramount Pictures. It received negative reviews from critics, although the cast was praised. The film was also a box office bomb, grossing $29 million against a budget of the same amount and more than $100 million spent on marketing costs.[2]

Plot

Two friends with very different personalities run their own beauty company, Mia&Mel. Mel (Rose Byrne) is more practical and inventive, while Mia (Tiffany Haddish) wants to earn her fortune quickly and live a lavish lifestyle.

Things take a turn for the worse when their company runs into $493,000 of debt, forcing them to turn to unscrupulous benefactor Claire Luna (Salma Hayek), head of a major cosmetics empire, who intends to steal the business out from under them. The two must address their differences to save their business, as they are faced with the challenge of 'proving' themselves to Luna even as Luna steals their 'one-night-stand' bag idea and has it marketed through one of her other companies, as well as forcing them to fire one of their workers, Barrett (Billy Porter), leaving fellow staffer Sydney (Jennifer Coolidge) as their sole employee.

Mia and Mel briefly 'split up' through their different approaches to Luna's offer, but they reconcile when their friends help them face how they need each other. Faced with the possible loss of their business, Mia and Mel approach Shay (Lisa Kudrow), Luna's former business partner, to start a new company, Proud Cosmetics, marketing their new 'Ride or Die' product, make-up intended to be used by best friends together to face their nights out. With this loophole, Mia and Mel are able to produce and market 'Ride or Die' under the 'Proud' banner while Luna takes ownership of Mia&Mel while still required to pay them 49% of all subsequent earnings. Mia and Mel also bring along Sydney and Barrett to the new company.

Cast

Production

On October 23, 2017, it was announced that Paramount Pictures had bought a female-centered comedy spec, Limited Partners, specifically as a starring role for Tiffany Haddish. The film was written by Sam Pitman & Adam Cole-Kelly, from a story by the two, and Danielle Sanchez-Witzel, and was produced by Peter Principato, Itay Reiss, and Joel Zadak through their Principato-Young Entertainment (now known as Artists First).[3] In July 2018, Paramount set Miguel Arteta as director.[4] Later the same month, Rose Byrne was cast as the film's other lead.[5] In September 2018, Salma Hayek was added to play the villain.[6] In October 2018, Ari Graynor, Jacob Latimore, Karan Soni, Jimmy O. Yang, Natasha Rothwell, Jessica St. Clair and Billy Porter also joined the cast of the film.[7]

Principal photography on the film began in October 2018.[6] In July 2019, the film was re-titled Like a Boss.[8]

Release

Like a Boss was released on January 10, 2020 by Paramount Pictures.[9] It was previously scheduled for June 28, 2019.[10]

Reception

Box office

Like a Boss grossed $22.2 million in the United States and Canada, and $7.5 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $29.7 million.[1][11]

In the United States and Canada, the film was released alongside Underwater and the expansions of Just Mercy and 1917, and was projected to gross $10–12 million from 3,078 theaters in its opening weekend.[12] The film made $3.9 million on its first day of release, including $1 million from Thursday night previews. It went on to debut to $10 million, finishing fifth at the box office.[13] The film fell 60% in its second weekend to $4 million (and $4.7 million over the four-day Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday), finishing ninth.[14]

Critical response

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 22% based on 148 reviews, with an average rating of 4.2/10. The site's critics consensus reads, "Like a Boss oversees a merger of powerful comedic talents, but the end results are likely to leave audience members feeling swindled out of their investments."[15] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 33 out of 100 based on 31 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews."[16] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale, and PostTrak reported viewers gave it an average 3 out of 5 stars.[13]

Rolling Stone’s Peter Travers gave the film 1 out of 5 stars and wrote, "What we have here is a comedy on life support, with Haddish and Byrne valiantly performing futile acts of resuscitation. Sorry to report: The patient died."[17]

References
  1. "Like a Boss (2020)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  2. "Like A Boss: Box Office Breakdown". Bomb Report. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
  3. Jr, Mike Fleming (October 23, 2017). "Paramount Lands Pitch Vehicle For 'Girls Trip' Breakout Tiffany Haddish". Deadline. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  4. Jr, Mike Fleming (July 9, 2018). "Paramount Wins Scrum For Tiffany Haddish; Miguel Arteta To Direct Her In 'Limited Partners'". Deadline. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  5. Kit, Borys (July 16, 2018). "Rose Byrne in Talks to Join Tiffany Haddish in 'Limited Partners' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  6. Vlessing, Etan (September 28, 2018). "Salma Hayek Joins Tiffany Haddish in Paramount Comedy 'Limited Partners'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  7. Kroll, Justin (October 18, 2018). "Tiffany Haddish's 'Limited Partners' Rounds Out Cast (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  8. Pederson, Erik (July 31, 2019). "Paramount Retitles Tiffany Haddish-Rose Byrne Buddy Comedy; Release Date Holds – Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  9. Pederson, Erik (March 15, 2019). "Paramount Moves 'Limited Partners' To 2020 & Dates 'The Tiger's Apprentice' Toon". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  10. Galuppo, Mia (May 23, 2018). "Paramount Removes 'Transformers 7' From Calendar, Dates 'Rocketman'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  11. "Like a Boss (2020)". The Numbers. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  12. D'Alessandro, Anthony (January 6, 2020). "'1917' Advance Ticket Sales Already Fired Up From Golden Globe Wins As Sam Mendes Pic Sees $25M Opening". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  13. D'Alessandro, Anthony (January 12, 2020). "'1917' Strong With $36M+, But 'Like A Boss' & 'Just Mercy' Fighting Over 4th With $10M; Why Kristen Stewart's 'Underwater' Went Kerplunk With $6M+". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  14. Anthony D'Alessandro (January 19, 2020). "'Bad Boys For Life' So Great With $100M+ Worldwide; 'Dolittle' Still A Dud With $57M+ Global – Box Office Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  15. "Like a Boss (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  16. "Like a Boss Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  17. Travers, Peter (January 9, 2020). "'Like a Boss': Whoever Made This Inane Comedy Should Be Fired". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
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