Based on the DC Vertigo graphic novel of the same name, The Kitchen continues the recent trend of female-led, big-budget movies.
Set in Hell's Kitchen circa 1978, the plot sees Irish mobsters Jimmy (Brian d'Arcy James), Rob (Jeremy Bobb), and Kevin (James Badge Dale) get sent to prison after a robbery gone wrong.
Their wives - Kathy (Melissa McCarthy), Claire (Elisabeth Moss), and Ruby (Tiffany Haddish) - are mistreated by everyone around them.
Struggling to pay the bills, the trio hatch a plan to take over the mob and rule Hell's Kitchen.
Similarly to last year's Widows, The Kitchen puts some of Hollywood's best actresses front and centre.
Sadly, first-time director Andrea Berloff (known for co-writing Straight Outta Compton and Blood Father) squanders its intriguing premise.
Following a conventional rise-and-fall-and-rise narrative, the movie hits its marks without leaving a lasting impression.
Kathy, Claire, and Ruby's rise to power is conveyed through dialogue and hastily edited montages.
We hear about their dastardly deeds, but never actually get to see them.
The three leads are fairly bland, while the supporting characters are all one dimensional.
Whereas Domhnall Gleeson and Bill Camp make the most of their situation, Margo Martindale and Common fail to impress.
Tripping at every turn, The Kitchen will likely land on many 'Worst of 2019' lists.
