Spy

Reviews from the Dark Side presents
   Spy
Released 6/5/15

When you have certain director/star collaborations, they can work magic on a movie screen.  There's Scorsese/DeNiro.  There's Coppola/Pacino.  And most recently...Feig/McCarthy?  This week's release of the action comedy, Spy, marks the third collaboration of director, Paul Feig and actress, Melissa McCarthy.  The duo has struck gold twice with the uproarious comedies, Bridesmaids and The Heat.  Could they hit a trifecta with Spy?  McCarthy has had a couple of critical turkeys in recent years, so it wouldn't hurt to have another win.

In this espionage spoof, Susan Cooper (McCarthy) is a CIA office grunt assigned to be the eyes and ears of one of agency's premiere field agents, Bradley Fine (Jude Law).  In pursuit of a suitcase nuke, Fine kills his target through a freak accident.  Unfortunately, the target was the only person who knew the location of the bomb. 

Back in the U.S., Fine is soon sent on another quest to find the suitcase when the CIA learns it could be with the target's daughter (Rose Byrne).  The mission ends tragically for Fine prompting Cooper(feeling guilty about not being able to save Fine) to request her first field assignment to track the suitcase when it's learned that all field agents' identities could be compromised. With no prior field experience, the Director (Allison Janney) is reluctant to send Cooper on the mission, but, she's out of options.  Fortunately, Cooper is surprisingly adept at combat as evidenced by her agency training videos.  So, the Director caves and sends her into the field much to the chagrin of boisterous agent, Rick Ford (Jason Statham), who believes she is nothing but a liability.  It's too bad that he's a bit of a bumbling idiot himself. 

Spy is a riot from almost the first frame and is an excellent send up of the espionage genre.  It's not as playfully goofy as the Austin Powers series, but it has its tongue firmly planted in its cheek with some of its more absurd moments.  I suggest putting your drink down when Fine accidentally kills the target in the movie's opening moments.  Both the suddenness and silliness of the scene will make you choke and ask "Did that just happen?"  There's also a fair amount of brutality in Spy as well.  There are a couple of absolutely gruesome slayings in the film.  But, they're usually followed by something ludicrous so you don't have a lot of time to dwell on them. 

This is a film where all of the performances just click with each other like a well oiled machine.  Law is the adept, if somewhat clueless, James Bond type.  Cooper clearly has a thing for him which he just doesn't see, and he continues to treat her like one of the guys.  Statham is the blustery, arrogant malcontent who isn't nearly as good as he thinks he is.  Who knew that he could be intentionally funny?  Although to be fair, he is still playing his usual Jason Statham role only with a comedic bent.

Other notable performances include Miranda Hart as Susan's dittery co-worker, Nancy.  And, then there's Aldo (Peter Serafinowic), the amorous British field agent (who pretends he's Italian) who wants to bed every woman he sees, including Susan.  She's pretty much groped by him at some point in many of the scenes they're in together. 

And, then there's Melissa McCarthy herself.  Paul Feig brings out the best in her.  I'm not sure what magic they have together, but, they need to keep collaborating because they give you something special every time.  In addition to her usual comedic talents, McCarthy adds a certain amount of sadness to Susan's character as no one takes her seriously due to her outward appearance.  And, let us not forget what has become a staple for her in most of her recent movies.  She has a couple of incredibly foul-mouthed tirades.  Some comedians can't pull this off without being overbearing.  She's one of the ones who can and still come off as likable. 

Spy is a return to inspired lunacy for McCarthy whose major starring vehicle last year, Tammy, didn't quite seem to be up to her normal standard.  It has surprisingly good action sequences (Melissa McCarthy action hero?) and the comedy is high quality as well.  Oh, and let me leave with this.  Stay through the end credits for a brief comic exchange between McCarthy and Statham.  It's a hoot to say the least.

The Dark Lord of the Sith says:

**** stars

 Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Worth a look.  Better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. I'm doing my happy dance!
5 *= Pure eye candy. I have seen the top of the mountain, and it is good