Leslie Mann

Mann often plays the woman trying to keep everybody else under control. Her high, raspy voice makes the irritation audible, but she takes the worry behind it seriously enough to stop the character becoming just a nuisance. That is what we value in her comedy: someone can be unreasonable and still have a reason to be upset. Her willingness to look foolish helps, too, particularly when the embarrassment becomes physical.

The breakthrough was The Cable Guy (1996), followed by the repeated collaborations with director and writer Judd Apatow. The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005) made use of her physical comedy; Knocked Up (2007) gave her Debbie, a supporting character whose family concerns allowed more feeling into the jokes. This Is 40 (2012) brought Debbie into the lead and gave Mann more room to work through the strains of marriage and parenthood. These are useful parts for her, though the repeated casting as a controlling wife or mother has become a limitation.

In Spa Weekend (2026), Mann's Jane is part of a group of stressed friends on a spa trip, and the company is better than the outing. Mann and Anna Faris contribute an easy rapport, while Isla Fisher gives Mel the unruliness the comedy needs. We were frustrated by the tired wellness jokes because the cast already had us enjoying their company. Mann's ease with the others is worth noticing, but it cannot make this a comedy we recommend.

Michelle Buteau fares best as Coco, helped by a character more developed than her companions. That difference matters: she gets some material equal to her delivery, while Mann and Faris are too often left to supply the pleasure simply by being there. The unconvincing sentiment in Spa Weekend is a particular waste of Mann's ability to make a comic character's distress feel credible. The writing has not established enough affection for these women, and her performance cannot do that work unaided. For a fuller part, start with This Is 40.