Jon Lucas and Scott Moore have been the brains behind some of the most outrageous comedies of the last two decades, from The Hangover to Bad Moms. Now, they've teamed up with producer Suzanne Todd—whose credits include Memento and the Austin Powers franchise—for their latest project, Spa Weekend. The film follows four high school friends (Leslie Mann, Anna Faris, Michelle Buteau, and Isla Fisher) on a birthday getaway that goes hilariously off the rails.
In a recent interview, the trio dished on the challenges of filming in Australia, the joy of working with a stellar supporting cast, and the one scene that was just too "dark and weird" to keep.
Why They Cut a "Dark and Weird" Scene
When asked about deleted scenes, Lucas and Moore revealed that there was one moment that pushed the envelope a bit too far. "We had a scene that was just too dark and weird," Lucas admitted. "It involved the women in a situation that felt more like a horror movie than a comedy. We realized it didn't fit the tone we were going for." Moore added, "We're all about pushing boundaries, but this one crossed a line. We had to let it go."
The scene, which they didn't describe in detail, was a casualty of the editing room. "Sometimes you have to kill your darlings," Todd said. "It was a tough call, but the movie is better for it."
Bringing Back the Blooper Reel
One of the highlights of Spa Weekend is its blooper reel, a feature that's become rare in modern comedies. "We love bloopers," Lucas said. "They're a throwback to the days when comedies felt more spontaneous. Audiences love seeing the cast break character and laugh." Moore added, "We had so much footage of the cast cracking each other up. It felt like a waste not to share it."
Todd noted that bloopers also serve as a testament to the cast's chemistry. "These four women are hilarious together. The bloopers are a reminder of how much fun we had on set."
Filming in Australia: A Comedy Goldmine
The production shot on the Gold Coast, and the directors were thrilled with the local talent. "Australia is one of the most comedy-oriented countries," Lucas said. "People there have a great sense of humor, so finding comedic actors was a breeze." Moore added, "We had day players who were actually huge stars in Australia. You'd see them on billboards on your way to set."
The supporting cast, including Erica and Dominic Ona-Ariki, brought a wealth of talent to the film. "Dominic had won a ton of awards," Moore said. "It was surreal to have such accomplished actors in small roles."
The Art of the Stunt
From a golf cart chase to a mud bath scene, Spa Weekend is packed with physical comedy. "We love stunts," Lucas said. "They're what sell the movie in the trailer. When you see a great stunt, you think, 'I gotta see that.'" But they're not without challenges. "The golf cart jump took a lot of pre-visualization," Moore explained. "But the mud bath scene was more about just letting the cameras roll and hoping for magic."
Michelle Buteau, in particular, impressed the directors with her improvisational skills. "She could do the whole movie in one take," Lucas said. "She's so talented and willing to play."
Spa Weekend is now in theaters. For more on the film, check out the cast's dream sequel cameos and Adam Demos on the film's chemistry.
