Film Review: Fresh Blast of Funny From Melissa McCarthy in ‘Spy’

CHICAGO – It can be argued that Melissa McCarthy, with a film a year and a TV sitcom still running, is topping out on exposure. But as long as she teams with writer/director Paul Feig, as she did on “Bridesmaids” and “The Heat,” she will continue to be an original comic force. Their latest is “Spy.”

Rating: 4.0/5.0

This is the type of movie that is given a green light at a movie executive meeting…”Melissa McCarthy is James Bond.” The instinctively funny Ms. McCarthy is surrounded in this comic spy movie by Jason Statham, Jude Law and Rose Byrne, all sending up their various images, and the story is done with a straight face – except for the inevitable audience laughter. This film has the same rat-a-tat joke count as “The Heat,” with the same silly bonding elements as “Bridesmaids.” Paul Feig knows how to generate laughs, and does it mostly by allowing free reign for Melissa McCarthy to express her offbeat style of delivery and presence.

Susan Cooper (McCarthy) is a cubicle jockey for the CIA. Her main assignment is surveillance backup for Bradley Fine (Jude Law), a suave and sophisticated spy straight out of Central Casting (or in this case, Central Intelligence). When a shoot-out incident goes awry, Fine is disposed of, but his mission is still hot. Cooper volunteers to take his place.

This is not greeted with enthusiasm from a fellow agent, the intense Rick Ford (Jason Statham), but is reluctantly signed off by Cooper’s boss Elaine Crocker (Allison Janney). Cooper is going undercover, as a cat lady and unmarried tourist. This ruse falls apart when Cooper encounters Rayna Boyanov (Rose Byrne), a foul-mouthed intermediary for the evil plot that needs foiling. And Agent Cooper just might be the right man…er…operative.

”Spy” opens everywhere on June 5th. Featuring Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Jude Law, Jason Statham, Bobby Cannavale and Allison Janney. Written and directed by Paul Feig. Rated “R”