If this movie doesn’t inspire you to go back to college with your mom, then I don’t know what will.
Melissa McCarthy makes her senior year, campus debut as the recently single, school-spirited, and devoted mother, Deanna. After her husband Dan (Matt Walsh) announces he wants a divorce so that he can be with his mistress, Helen (Gillian Jacobs), and a few wise words from her Uber driver, played by McCarthy’s husband, co-writer and director Ben Falcone, Deanna decides to reclaim her life and finally finish her archeology degree at Decatur University, where her daughter Maddie (Molly Gordon) just so happens to be a student.
Initially repulsed by the idea of parading around the same campus as her bedazzled crewneck-wearing mom, Maddie’s internal conflict is easily resolved after her four-person girl squad and the rest of her newfound sorority sisters eagerly accept Deanna or “Dee-Rock” for her quirky, boisterous self.
It seems like everything is going impressively well for Deanna, who even sparks a sweet and even a bit steamy love affair with a 21-year-old, frat-star named Jack (Luke Benward) after a few shots and a brief make-over. A couple of seemingly unpopular, over-the-top mean girls led by actor Debby Ryan and a chronic fear of public speaking appear to be Deanna’s biggest obstacles.
The dynamic between an overly loving Deanna attending the same university and imposing on her independent daughter’s senioritis is set up to be the main conflict of the film. But this undeniable tension is resolved almost so instantly, that seems like not much goes on in Life of the Party apart from witnessing the likable housewife excel at turning back time and living-out her missed glory days.
This makes it that much more difficult for Deanna’s “srat” sister/daughter, Maddie, and the rest of their eclectic friend group to accept that Deanna may have to drop out of school for a second time after Dan cuts her support payments off.
Fueled by a deep appreciation for their new friend and adoptive mother figure, the women of Phi Mu Gamma set out to throw the ultimate banger in order to fund the remainder of Deanna’s tuition. Even Deanna’s gothic and vampire-esque roommate Leonor (Heidi Gardner) finally leaves her dorm room and Deanna’s walk-in closet to get involved.
McCarthy and Falcone’s dramatic, sketch-comedy style sense of humor, perpetuated by the always-hilarious Maya Rudolph, who plays Deanna’s best friend and drunk racquetball partner, is effectively charming. Even a few plot-twists in the film, left the audience members audibly calling out “oh dang” and “uh-no she didn’t!”
Life of the Party definitely projects Hollywood’s skewed understanding of realistic college-life through exaggerated mean girl stereotypes and disproportionate scenarios, but it does highlight important distinctions and certain benefits of Greek Life in a sweet, “you go girl” kind of way. Life of the Party may not be the next Academy Award nominee for Best Picture, but it is an absolutely sweet, heartfelt comedy that is great if you’re looking to kick-back and bust open a bottle of your finest 2018 Chardonnay (which McCarthy gladly lives up to in various account throughout the film).
Life of the Party is out in theaters starting today, May 11th. Check out an official trailer for the film below:
