Second Act

Name: Second Act
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance
Released: December 21, 2018
Duration: 103 min
Rating: 46
Cast: Alan Aisenberg, Annaleigh Ashford, Charlyne Yi, Dan Bucatinsky, Dave Foley

2018

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 27 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 154 Ratings

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7.9

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7.9	Your Score
7.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 154 Ratings

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Second Act

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Movie Details & Credits

STX Entertainment | Release Date: December 21, 2018 | PG-13

Starring: Alan Aisenberg, Annaleigh Ashford, Charlyne Yi, Dan Bucatinsky, Dave Foley, Freddie Stroma, Jennifer Lopez, Larry Miller, Leah Remini, Milo Ventimiglia, Natasha Romanova, Treat Williams, Vanessa Hudgens

Summary: Second Act is a comedy in the vein of Working Girl and Maid In Manhattan. Jennifer Lopez stars as Maya, a 40-year-old woman struggling with frustrations from unfulfilled dreams. Until, that is, she gets the chance to prove to Madison Avenue that street smarts are as valuable as book smarts, and that it is never too late for a Second Act.

Director: Peter Segal

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Romance

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 103 min

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Critic Reviews

Chandler Levack

Dec 20, 2018

The film feels as finely tailored to J. Lo as the booty-enhancing pencil skirts she wears throughout the movie: Second Act’s Maya from Queens is our Jenny from the Block. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

Dec 20, 2018

Even though Second Act shouldn’t work, it does (sort of). It’s got flow, a certain knowing ticky-tackiness about its own contrivances. You know you’re watching a connect-the-dots comedy, but the dots sparkle. And Lopez gives her first star performance in a while. Age has enriched her talent; she brings curlicues of experience to every scene. Read full review

Empire Beth Webb

Jan 1, 2019

If you’re not fond of Lopez’s soapier films (hello Maid In Manhattan) this might make for queasy watching, but stick with Second Act for its smart reframing of a city Cinderella story that retains its sense of humour. Read full review

Wesley Morris

Dec 19, 2018

This is Jenny from the blah. Read full review

Mark Olsen

Dec 20, 2018

The movie is all over the place and there is no attempt to weave it into a coherent whole — which is regrettable as scene for scene it often works. Read full review

Abbey Bender

Dec 20, 2018

Second Act is an aspirational Pinterest board of a film, too bland to make an impression. If only the world saw street smarts as equal to book smarts, Maya wishes on her birthday. It’s a nice idea, but Second Act doesn’t possess smarts in either category. Read full review

Rex Reed

Dec 20, 2018

Jennifer Lopez can’t act, the meatheads responsible for the stupidest screenplay of the year can’t write, and I don’t know anybody with one hour and 43 minutes to waste in a busy holiday season, so a cinematic disaster called Second Act has nothing to recommend it, even as a temporary refuge from traffic gridlock. Read full review

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User Reviews

Heddy69

Dec 25, 2018

I really enjoy the movie ! I laugh and I cry, its all about dreams. The cast is very nice, I love the alchemy between Joan and Maya, Jennifer Lopez is very good. She deserves more first role.

4 of 7 users found this helpful43

Hugoema

Sep 9, 2019

Muy buena película, una historia inspiradora. La actuación de Jennifer Lopez es asombrosa.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

katez123

Dec 21, 2018

It's not an oscar winning movie by any means, but it's a great JLo film. Laugh out loud funny moments (Leah Remini almost steals the movie) and also sweet, touching moments that weren't expected. With the right expectations going in, you'll leave the film having had lots of laughs and reallyIt's not an oscar winning movie by any means, but it's a great JLo film. Laugh out loud funny moments (Leah Remini almost steals the movie) and also sweet, touching moments that weren't expected. With the right expectations going in, you'll leave the film having had lots of laughs and really enjoying the movie. Also, if you are a JLo fan, this is a must see as it's the best movie she has been in in a really long time.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

Acacia

Jan 4, 2019

I eagerly anticipated this movie for months after seeing the first trailer. Now that I’ve seen it, I can tell you that all the laughs are in the trailer. Lopez plays Maya, a woman whose godson tweaks ner resume so that it sounds fantastic enough to get this high school dropout a juniorI eagerly anticipated this movie for months after seeing the first trailer. Now that I’ve seen it, I can tell you that all the laughs are in the trailer. Lopez plays Maya, a woman whose godson tweaks ner resume so that it sounds fantastic enough to get this high school dropout a junior executive level job in a big company. Once Maya has the job, she uses her experience as an assistant manager of a Walmart type store. She does know her products and what her clients want. So far, so good. But, about half way through, there is an utterly preposterous “twist” that nobody could bave seen coming in a million years because it is so ridiculous. At that point, I kind of mentally threw up my hands and said, “Seriously!?!?” From then on, I kind of lost interest in the story. Leah Remini as Maya’s best friend is very fun to watch and adds lots of laughs. Also Charlyne Yi as a crazy co-worker also adds to the laughs. I so wanted to love this movie, but it wasn’t nearly as funny as the trailer would lead you to believe, and the whole product development plot was not amusing. I wouldn’t recommend it unless you are a die hard J’Lo fan, in which case, you’re going to see it anyway! As I would!… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

tropicAces

Dec 27, 2018

I mean, what do you expect? It hits every beat you think it will, with silly plot twists and cheesy heart-tugs along the way. Nice to see J-Lo back in her element, though...

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

JLuis_001

Feb 2, 2019

Positivism? Yes, I can say, yes. Execution and functionality? Not really and I'll be honest, I'm not fond of Jennifer Lopez. I never have been.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

vinidornellas

May 29, 2023

JLo is an arrogant and deplorable woman who doesn't know what quality and talent is. His works are hideous and dark.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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