SPA WEEKEND + BLACKSTAR FILM FESTIVAL and 2026 NABJ Convention Review | SEATED Podcast | Ep. 44
· 1 h 32 min · S1 E44
Episode SPA WEEKEND + BLACKSTAR FILM FESTIVAL and 2026 NABJ Convention Review | SEATED Podcast | Ep. 44
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Hosts Tre'vell Anderson and Ray Love Jr. are packing their robes and bracing for chaos for their review of Jon Lucas and Scott Moore's new comedy, SPA WEEKEND.
Starring Michelle Buteau alongside Leslie Mann, Isla Fisher, and Anna Faris, the film follows a group of burnt-out friends whose much-needed luxury spa getaway descends into a wild, R-rated disaster when their most chaotic bestie crashes the trip. Ray and Tre'vell get into the nitty-gritty of the film's execution, unpacking how this messy girls' trip plays through the Black gaze and whether the laugh-out-loud hijinks actually give what they're supposed to give or just rely on tired tropes. Tune in for their hella honest verdict: is this disastrous vacation a "Seated," "Stream It," or a "Skip It?"
The duo opens the show with Ray's bucket-list recap of attending his very first 2026 BlackStar Film Festival! He unpacks his favorite films, can't-miss events, and exciting encounters with some of his favorite people in the industry (complete with exclusive video b-roll for our YouTube watchers).
Plus, the hosts play a special "Canon Cousin" edition of the Black Cinema Games, highlighting five iconic Black-led films that act as canonical cousins to Spa Weekend—centered on retreats, tropical vacations, and weekend trips where the paradise vibe completely goes off the rails. Finally, they close the show with Good Vibes Only, sharing what's bringing them joy this week Law Roach stepping on necks on Project Runway and the Sunday at Archie's YouTube vlog, which launches them into a brief chat on their experience at the 2026 NABJ convention.
JOIN THE SEATED MOVIE CLUB
https://www.seatedshow.com/join
00:00:00 - Intro
00:02:38 - 2026 BlackStar Film Festival Overview
00:13:30 - 2026 BlackStar Film Festival: Best Films (Call Of My Life, West Side Familia, The Seeds We Carry, ChikaBOOM!, We Are Not Dreaming)
00:23:50 - SEATED Merch Exclusives!
00:26:26 - Spa Weekend Spoiler-Free Chat
00:59:11 - Spa Weekend Spoiler-Filled Review
01:08:24 - Seated, Skip It, Stream It Verdict
01:09:39 - Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score, Letterboxd Rating
01:10:25 - Black Critic Spotlight: Carla Hay, CultureMixOnline.com
01:11:45 - Black Cinema Games: Canon Cousins Edition - Vacation Chaos & Paradise Problems
01:22:37 - Good Vibes Only: Project Runway Season 22, Sunday at Archie's: I Finally Went To NABJ (Ep. 7)
CONNECT
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seatedshow,
Website: https://www.seatedshow.com
Email: holla@seatedshow.com
CREDITS
Hosts: Tre'vell Anderson and Ray Love Jr.
Produced by: Slayzhon and FiftyLeven Media
Editor: Ray Love Jr.
Theme Music: Buckroll
Animation: Agung Adhi
Location Partner: The WalkGood Yard ( @WalkGoodLA )
Creative Consultant: Jade Fox ( @iamjadefox )
Publicity: House of Heralds
TITLES DISCUSSED
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21 & Over starring Miles Teller, Skylar Astin, Justin Chon, Sarah Wright (Directed by Jon Lucas, Scott Moore)
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27 Dresses starring Katherine Heigl, James Marsden, Malin Akerman, Edward Burns (Directed by Anne Fletcher)
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Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens starring Awkwafina, BD Wong, Lori Tan Chinn, Bowen Yang (Created by Awkwafina, Teresa Hsiao)
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Babes starring Ilana Glazer, Michelle Buteau, John Carroll Lynch, Stephan James (Directed by Pamela Adlon)
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A Bad Moms Christmas starring Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Christine Baranski (Directed by Jon Lucas, Scott Moore)
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Book Club starring Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, Mary Steenburgen (Directed by Bill Holderman)
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Bride Hard starring Rebel Wilson, Anna Camp, Anna Chlumsky, Da'Vine Joy Randolph (Directed by Simon West)
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Call Of My Life starring Uzoamaka Power, Andrew Yaw Bunting, Zubby Michael, Beverly Osu (Directed by Dammy Twitch)
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ChikaBoom! starring Yara Shahidi, Natasha Lyonne, Daveed Diggs, Roy Wood Jr. (Directed by c. Craig Patterson)
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First Wives Club (BET Series) starring Michelle Buteau, Jill Scott, Ryan Michelle Bathe, Mark Tallman…
Links in the notes 18
- https://youtu.be/7e8p99aS2hA
- https://www.seatedshow.com/join
- https://blackstarprojects.org/
- https://www.imdb.com/title/tt39858051/?_ssoLoop=1
- https://www.westsidefamiliafilm.com/
- https://gabanimates.com/the-seeds-we-carry
- https://www.imdb.com/title/tt38262477/
- https://letterboxd.com/film/we-are-not-dreaming-2026/
- https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33305867/
- https://blackbearpictures.com/film-and-tv/spa-weekend
- https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/spa_weekend
- https://letterboxd.com/film/spa-weekend-2026/
- https://www.rottentomatoes.com/profiles/critic/carla-hay
- https://culturemixonline.com/review-spa-weekend-2026-starring-leslie-mann-isla-fisher-michelle-buteau-and-anna-faris/
- https://www.hulu.com/series/6fa35fc5-00e4-400e-9529-640c064fc982?utm_source=tkt_press&utm_medium=tkt_organic&utm_campaign=tkt_project-runway
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=By-1ERRPXqw&t=966s
- https://www.instagram.com/seatedshow
- https://www.seatedshow.com
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