Two friends on a road trip compete for the affections of a handsome man when a hurricane redirects their flight.
The Layover 2017
The Layover 2017
Movie Review: The Layover (2017)
Directed by: William H. Macy
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Starring: Alexandra Daddario, Kate Upton, Matt Barr
Plot Summary
Best friends Meg (Kate Upton) and Kate (Alexandra Daddario) are both stuck in a rut—Kate’s a high school teacher who’s just been passed over for a promotion, and Meg is a carefree spirit struggling to find direction. Hoping for a relaxing vacation, they spontaneously book a tropical getaway. However, their flight gets diverted due to a hurricane, forcing them to make an unexpected layover in St. Louis. There, they meet Ryan (Matt Barr), a handsome, charming traveler who catches both of their eyes.
What begins as a minor flirtation quickly turns into an all-out rivalry, with both women scheming, sabotaging, and embarrassing themselves in increasingly outrageous ways to win Ryan’s attention. As the competition intensifies, their friendship is put to the ultimate test—raising the question of whether a guy is worth destroying a lifelong bond.
Verdict: A Turbulent Comedy That Rarely Takes Off
The Layover sets up a promising comedic premise—two best friends fighting for the same guy during an unexpected layover—but ultimately nosedives into cliché and crude humor that rarely sticks the landing. Directed by William H. Macy, this raunchy road-trip rom-com features Alexandra Daddario and Kate Upton as polar-opposite BFFs whose friendship is tested when their flight gets rerouted and they end up competing for a handsome stranger (Matt Barr).
While the film tries to blend Bridesmaids-style banter with Planes, Trains and Automobiles chaos, it lacks the wit and depth needed to make it memorable. The humor relies heavily on over-the-top gags and predictable hijinks, often at the expense of character development. Daddario gives a decent comedic performance, but even she can’t salvage the weak script and inconsistent pacing.
Visually, the film has a bright, polished look, and there’s no shortage of attractive leads, but the lack of emotional core and originality makes it feel more like a low-budget sitcom episode stretched into a feature.
Pros:
- Alexandra Daddario’s comedic timing
- Some amusing travel mishaps
Cons:
- Overreliance on crude humor
- Flat dialogue and underdeveloped characters
- Lacks genuine chemistry and heart
