In the movie Spy, from the director of Bridesmaids and The Heat, Paul Feig, Susan Cooper (Melissa McCarthy) is an unassuming, desk bound CIA analyst, and the unsung hero behind the Agency’s most dangerous missions.
But when her partner (Jude Law) falls off the grid and another top agent (Jason Statham) is compromised, she volunteers to go deep undercover to infiltrate the world of a deadly arms dealer, and prevent a global disaster.
This is the third collaboration between Melissa McCarthy and director Paul Feig. The first movie that they made together was the 2010 box office smash Bridesmaids. The Heat, from summer 2013, was their sophomore endeavor together. (The 2016 big screen Ghostbusters remake will mark their fourth collaboration).
SPY Review
By Audrey Shine (Wild About Movies resident critic)
And the answer is YES – SPY. I am still laughing about this movie and I saw it over a week ago. You know that Melissa McCarthy is the queen of the quip and makes slip-stick comedy modern again. She has starred in quite a few laugh-out-loud comedies like the Heat and Bridemaids. And Alison Jenny has the ultimate deadpan “straight man” act. But Jason Stratham (“The Transporter”?) And Jude Law (Dr. Watson of “Sherlock Holmes” fame?) Who knew?
SPY is clever, unexpected, and unique. What if Miss Moneypenny took over James Bond’s job? That’s the plot of SPY – a confluence of role reversals, good guy/bad guy villans, and political ambiguity with dramatic, dire, potential consequences.
Paul Feig wrote and directed the movie, which showcases Melissa’s passive/aggressive punch line delivery and physical humor. He really gets her. If it is to be believed, Jason Stratham is the comic relief (really, I am not making this up) and he gets into the role, darting in and out of life or death situations which he totally succeeds in messing up.
To complement Melissa McCarthy’s (Susan) comic genius, Rose Byrne (Rayna) is brilliant as Melissa’s well coiffed and well armed nemisis. Miranda Hart (Nancy) is there for friendship and support, while providing some of the best banter of the movie in her earpiece. Michael McDonald (Patrick) as “Q” plays it straight while arming McCarthy with the worst, disappointing gadgets imaginable.
This is a comedy that works. No dramatic turns. No maudlin regrets or revelations. One of the funniest bits is on Rayna’s airplane, with heroes and antiheroes stacked up like pancakes. I’ll leave it at that…
