Skincare
Skincare
Famed aesthetician Hope Goldman's skincare business faces sabotage when rival Angel Vergara opens a boutique across the street. Aided by friend Jordan, Hope seeks to uncover who's trying to ruin her reputation.
Kevin Ward reviewedJuly 1, 2025
Elizabeth Banks stars as Hope Goldman an ambitious skincare professional launching her own skincare line. But the capital investment to get her line off the ground has left her a bit cash strapped. To make matters worse she’s become the target of a malicious hacking and salacious smear campaign tarnishing her business reputation. Coincidentally, a new direct competitor has moved in next door stealing her clientele and her spotlight right when she needs it the most.
Banks is pitch perfect in the role portraying Hope’s internal insecurities and self-doubt, while attempting to maintain a facade of elegance and sophistication. Plus she skillfully delivers in the comedic moments. One example is when she first introduces herself to Angel Vergara (Luis Gerardo Mendez), her new neighbor. Trying to save face and shield her insecurity of a potential competitor, she remarks with a catty “I’m sure we don’t have the same clientele.” But when Angel agrees and reiterates that same sentiment, Hope’s demeanor shifts as if to say “What the f🤩k is that supposed to mean?” Her performance is filled with these kinds of moments where her internal reality doesn’t match her external facade. It’s impressive from a performance perspective but also lands comedically every time.
The entire first half of the film was actually surprisingly funny before the film shifts to more of the thriller aspects. Jordan (Lewis Pullman) in particular is hilariously cringe from his introduction the moment he says he’s a life coach / martial arts instructor, and only escalates from there. Nathan Fillion’s, Brett, a smarmy talk show host that Hope has recorded a segment that she’s leveraging to launch her product line.
All these characters present as a means to skewer the LA lifestyle culture of self promotion. Every one is just working some kind of hustle for their own gains. Hope dishes out her skincare products as if it’s legal currency, posturing the handouts as a favor when it’s really just another means of self promotion. Similarly, Jordan is always attempting to trade his life coaching sessions. Every one of these character interaction I found to be delightfully funny.
As Hope becomes increasingly victimized by this smear campaign, the film shifts more-so to a thriller. Hope turns to several people (men) to try and solve her problems for her. But she soon learns that this reliance on men can have some dire consequence and that most times it’s better to handle sh🤩on your own. Admittedly the second half twists (if you can even call them that) were rather predictable—specifically who is behind the smear campaign. Still, I think the film really nailed the ending. I loved Hope’s character arc. She pulls off a f🤩king boss move with Brett in one of her scenes with him in his car. Really pleasantly surprised by this film. Might be my favorite Elizabeth Banks role. She’s really great in it.