The Five-Star Weekend Review: A Stellar Ensemble Combines Humor and Heartbreak

For decades, the idea of “Chick TV” has received a bad rap for being sentimental and sappy. However, these series and movies have found staying power far beyond contemporary shows that never received the label, proving there’s something to serving your audience. The Five-Star Weekend might owe a debt to Nancy Meyers and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, but what it does with that foundation is miraculous. With a brilliant cast and a willingness to lighten the mood with some of the funniest lines you’ll hear on TV, The Five-Star Weekend seems destined for many a rewatch.

What is The Five-Star Weekend about?

When food and lifestyle blogger Hollis Shaw (Jennifer Garner) loses her husband, Matthew (Josh Hamilton), she struggles to get over her grief. In an attempt to change her situation, Hollis decides to invite her four closest friends to her Nantucket home. However, Hollis does not know that each of the women has their own baggage. Hollis’ daughter, Caroline (Harlow Jane), also joins them as she considers dropping out of college.

Hollis’ oldest friend, Tatum (Chloë Sevigny), discovers a mass and waits for her results. Her college friend, Dru-Ann (Regina Hall), comes under fire for her comments regarding athletes she represents as an agent. Brooke (D’Arcy Carden) wants a weekend away from her husband (Rob Huebel) as they approach a deposition. Finally, Gigi (Gemma Chan) is an internet fan Hollis made after Matthew’s death.

The character work, comedy, and emotional brilliance of The Five-Star Weekend are something to behold.

Based on the novel by Elin Hilderbrand, The Five-Star Weekend thrives because of the five incredible characters that drive the narrative. Developed by Bekah Brunstetter, the characters leap off the screen, each as three-dimensional and complex as the last. There are some slight changes from the novel to give characters more agency and an active hand in the events that transpire over the eight episodes. Additionally, Brunstetter adds self-awareness to The Five-Star Weekend that helps land the comedy throughout the series.

Perhaps the most meta and self-aware moments of The Five-Star Weekend come from the characters themselves. The first time we watch Garner reconnect with longtime crush Timothy Olyphant, Jane notes that her mother is in a “Nicholas Sparks” movie. With visual aesthetics, clothes, and settings to match, it’s hard to argue with the observation. The series references Nancy Meyers, The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, and Beaches over its runtime, firmly confirming the show’s intentions.

This extends to the needle drops, with The Cranberries’ “Dreams” and Maggie Rogers’ “Light On” both making appearances. The music budget, frankly, must have been ridiculous for this show, but you never have to worry about an AI soundalike song finding its way into the series. There are awards for music supervisors, and The Five-Star Weekend will only gain more attention with its massive playlist of well-used hits.

The performances are also stellar. Garner continues her outstanding run on television, proving once again she’s among the most talented actresses alive. She’s undeniably at the center of The Five-Star Weekend and delivers everything from unfathomable grief to “college binge drinking, woo girl” across the show. She’s not the only one, with Hall and Sevigny delivering powerhouse performances of their own. Each actress gets a half-dozen scenes to showcase their strongest aspects as performers. The two character actresses have long been popular in the “if you know, you know” crowds of cinephiles, and this is some of their best work in years.

My favorite performance, however, comes from Carden. The criminally underrated actress was a comedic driving force in The Good Place and showed her dramatic skills in A League of Their Own. However, putting her on equal footing with this cast gives her an opportunity to really showcase her versatility as a performer. There’s a hunger for acceptance that you can read in every scene, and when she gets moments to pair with every actress, she steals the show. It’s a dynamic, lovely, and heartwarming performance that gives The Five-Star Weekend a sense of discovery alongside its stars.

Chan gets the least of the material on the surface but also delivers when The Five-Star Weekend calls for her to turn up the emotion. Her secrets quickly spill into the group, leading to conflict and frustration. Like Carden, she excels with every on-screen pairing, continually finding new grooves and moments to explore with her scene partners.

If there is a nit to pick, The Five-Star Weekend leaves Jane struggling with subpar material. The actress finds herself on a narrative island that seems present to further serve Garner. It does help expand the world and drama in the series, leading to the eight-episode order instead of a six-episode season. While the other narrative arcs are complex and allow the actors to showcase their grief in subtle moments, Jane has a fairly traditional arc. If there is to be a second season, which could certainly happen given the ending of the first, we would love to see more depth added to her arcs in the future.

Is The Five-Star Weekend worth watching?

Yes, The Five-Star Weekend is a perfect summer season watch. It’s both a love letter to the adult romances of the 1990s and a shining example of friendship between women. Overflowing with talent, heartfelt moments, and humor, Peacock should have a hit on their hands. The Five-Star Weekend once again proves there is fertile ground for networks to adapt among the best-seller lists, but you need to pair together talent to land the plane. The Five-Star Weekend is the complete package and easily one of the year’s best shows.

The Five-Star Weekend releases on Peacock on July 9, 2026. Eight episodes were provided for this review.

The Five-Star Weekend Review: A Stellar Ensemble Combines Humor and Heartbreak