What if going back to college was your second chance at life? Melissa McCarthy stars in Life of the Party, a hilarious and heartfelt comedy about reinvention and starting over. When a sudden divorce upends her life, Deanna does the unthinkable—enrolling in the same college class as her daughter, bringing chaos, laughs, and unexpected lessons to campus. Behind the laughter, the film explores reinvention, identity, and the humor in embracing change. Released in theatres in May 2018, it’s now streaming on Netflix as the third most-watched film on the platform. Here’s everything you need to know about Life of the Party — from the plot and cast to reviews and release date. The trailer is at the bottom of the article.
Life of the Party – all the key details
- Title: Life of the Party
- Format: Film
- Length/Runtime: 105 minutes
- Genre: Comedy
- Country of production: United States
- Original language: English
- Director: Ben Falcone
- Lead cast: Melissa McCarthy, Molly Gordon, Maya Rudolph
- Produced by: New Line Cinema / On the Day Productions / Warner Bros. Pictures
What Life of the Party is about
The film opens with Deanna “Dee Rock” Miles (Melissa McCarthy) being dropped off at the door of the college campus by her husband and daughter, expecting a simple goodbye and a trip. Instead, Deanna receives a divorce notice, and she must face that the life she thought she had is unraveling. With her home and marriage gone, she decides to go back to school — at the very institution her daughter is attending.
Once on campus, Deanna finds herself navigating unfamiliar territory: dorm rooms, frat parties, sorority sisters, academic pressures—and the uncomfortable awareness that she’s no longer the traditional mother figure, but something else. The film uses the college‑setting comedy conventions to explore themes of reinvention, age, motherhood and the notion of “starting over” in a culture obsessed with youth. As one critic put it, it’s “a gentler, more sentimental” version of a college comedy, with a female lead who’s not thriving so much as reawakening.
Life of the Party cast: the main characters
Melissa McCarthy plays Deanna Miles, the former homemaker whose identity crisis triggers the story. Known for her energetic physical comedy and affable screen presence, McCarthy takes on a character with quieter stakes than some of her previous roles—less “crazy hijinks” than self‑reclamation. Molly Gordon plays Maddie Miles, Deanna’s daughter, the college student whose world is upended when her mom shows up in her dorm. The dynamic between mother and daughter is central: Maddie must adjust to sharing her space and identity while Deanna must situate herself in a younger world. Maya Rudolph portrays Christine Davenport, Deanna’s long‑time best friend. Rudolph’s comedic talents provide a sharp counterpoint to Deanna’s journey—serving as the voice of wholehearted support and the reminder that adult women can still get loud and messy and joyful.
Is it based on a true story?
No, the film is not based on a true story, nor adapted from a book or other source material. It’s an original screenplay co‑written by Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone, so the characters and story arcs reflect fictional creation rather than a real‑life event.
The reviews
While Life of the Party received mixed reviews overall, many critics praised Melissa McCarthy’s performance as the heart of the film. Her empathetic, energetic portrayal of Deanna brings warmth and charm to a story that could have felt formulaic. Reviewers highlighted the film’s humor, particularly its playful set pieces and ’80s-themed party sequences, as well as its lighthearted approach to themes of reinvention and starting over. Some critics appreciated its gentler, more sentimental take on the college comedy genre, noting that it delivers laughs without relying on mean-spirited jokes, making it a feel-good, uplifting experience for audiences looking for fun and relatable comedy.
Filming locations
Principal filming began in Atlanta, Georgia, with the campus and college town setting evoking the typical Southern‑US university flavor. The production uses its setting as backdrop more than character: the timeless college architecture, dorm rooms, Greek‑life scenes give a familiar environment in which the protagonist stands out as the odd one‑out.
Life of the Party: behind the scenes
Life of the Party marks another collaboration between Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone, who co-wrote the screenplay while Falcone took the director’s chair. The film’s central idea—a mother returning to college—explores a rarely seen perspective in adult re-entry stories, focusing less on the typical youthful student experience and more on the challenges and humor of navigating adulthood in transition. Fans might enjoy spotting playful touches in the credits, including a cameo by McCarthy’s own father, adding a personal nod to the production. Released around Mother’s Day weekend in 2018, the film was positioned as a feel-good comedy with heart, celebrating reinvention and the joy of starting over.
Release date on streaming
Available now. Life of the Party is streaming on Netflix starting November 1, 2025 ► Watch on Netflix
