Second Act
Value Shop assistant manager Maya Vargas wants only one thing for her 43rd birthday -- a promotion. While her résumé may not scream upper management, her track record certainly does; she is an innovator who listens to her customers and delivers results. When she loses the job to a college-educated candidate, Maya sets out to prove to Madison Avenue that street smarts are as valuable as book smarts -- and it's never too late for a second act.
Critics Sentiment
Maya's team crashes into Zoe's boat during rowing competition at yacht club
Maya realizes Zoe is the biological daughter she gave up for adoption
The film's biggest drop occurs when the melodramatic mother-daughter revelation shifts the tone from workplace comedy to family drama, with critics finding this twist poorly executed.
Second Act starts as a predictable but charming workplace comedy that peaks with physical comedy moments, but stumbles significantly when it introduces a melodramatic family storyline. Critics consistently noted the film's tonal inconsistency and rushed ending, though most acknowledged Lopez's solid performance and some genuinely funny supporting character moments. The overall reception reflects a movie that had potential but couldn't decide what story it wanted to tell.
Full cast
Showing 20 of 33
Jennifer Lopez
Maya
Vanessa Hudgens
Zoe
Leah Remini
Joan
Milo Ventimiglia
Trey
Treat Williams
Anderson Clarke
Lo Mutuc
Ariana
Annaleigh Ashford
Hildy Ostrander
Alan Aisenberg
Chase
Freddie Stroma
Ron Ebsen
Dave Foley
Felix Richter
Larry Miller
Weiskopf
Dierdre Friel
Big Ant
Lacretta
Suzi Teplitsky
Dan Bucatinsky
Arthur Coyle
Dalton Harrod
Dilly
John James Cronin
Otto
Phil Nee
Philip Jiang
Meng Ai
Dr. Chow
Elizabeth Masucci
Claire
Michael Boatman
Edward Taylor
Crew
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