We have seen Melissa McCarthy shine in comedy films such as Bridesmaids and The Heat, but it is in her latest collaboration with writer/director Paul Feig —who directed the two aforementioned films — that truly makes a statement that the Oscar-nominated actress is a bankable leading lady of comedy.
At the beginning of Spy, we see Susan Cooper (McCarthy) on the sidelines as a computer operations guru that lends support to the CIA’s top dog, agent Bradley Fine (Jude Law excelling in a James Bond parody role). She is the voice in his earpiece, providing tips as to where the bad guys are coming from and where the target items/people are.
Fine is taken down by arms dealer Rayna Boyanov (Rose Byrne is comic dynamite playing a spoiled aristocrat-type), and while handling Fine she reveals she knows the identity of every single agent that the CIA has at its disposal. This leads to the CIA having to throw Cooper into the field to track down Boyanov and other terrorists across Europe.
She receives support from her friend Nancy, a gal that buzzes with nervous excitement (Miranda Hart in the scene-stealing role of the film) and from European spy Aldo, who has a particular lust for women with an ample figure. Causing headaches for Cooper is macho egocentric spy, Rick Ford (Jason Statham plays a great pain-in-the-butt), who can’t handle Cooper being on the frontlines while he has been placed on the sidelines.
In addition to some of the characters and graphics in the film, Spy effectively parodies James Bond by features staging some impressively stylish and creative action sequences. You will get a great kick out of seeing Cooper evolve from shy girl to indestructible warrior.
The script is loaded with uproariously funny zingers. The lines lands as well as they do because the script does a good job in creating fully realized characters.
This film does have an overall appealing light tone, but it does nail its quiet dramatic moments that are sprinkled throughout.
I laughed a lot watching this movie. I am sure you will too.
Four-and-a-half popcorn buckets out of five.
