It’s original. It’s not a reboot of a remake of a sequel. It’s the breakout success of the summer. And it left BQB rolling in the aisles.
Bookshelf Q. Battler here with a review of the comedy/action film Spy.
OBLIGATORY SPOILER WARNING
Movie Trailer – Spy – 20th Century Fox
I have to admit going into this I wasn’t expecting much, so I love it when a movie leaves me pleasantly surprised and wanting more.
Melissa McCarthy’s great and all but for awhile I’ve felt her best performance was in Bridesmaids and everything else was just icing on the cake.
Until now.
McCarthy stars as Susan Cooper, a desk jockey CIA analyst who provides mission support for CIA agent Bradley Fine (Jude Law).
When the covers of the CIA’s top agents are blown, the situation calls for a real nobody to save the day, someone the enemy has never heard of before.
Or in other words, Susan Cooper.
Over the years, many films have tried to blend action with comedy with mixed results. Sometimes there’s a focus on the comedy and the action is watered down or vice versa. This film, on the other hand, provides the perfect mix of both. I was slapping my knee uncontrollably at all the funny bits but at the same time, was blown away with visual effects and fight scenes that rival any of the other action blockbusters out this summer.
McCarthy’s stock will no doubt rise after this picture. Not to give too much away, but she hilariously overcomes various lame cover identities to take control and bring down a scheme to sell a nuclear bomb.
What’s the key to a great comedy? For me, it’s uncontrollable laughter. Laughter is as real as it gets when it comes to emotional reaction. You either laugh or you don’t and I can’t remember a movie that left me guffawing like an idiot the way this one did.
Jason Statham shows a new side of himself as he provides a parody of every tough guy he’s ever played in the form of Agent Rick Ford. As a running joke in the film, Ford continuously regales Cooper with countless stories of dangers he’s encountered on the job. He’s been shot, stabbed, set on fire, and ingested one-hundred and seven varieties of poison, just to name a few.
Statham with a sense of humor. Who knew he had it in him?
As Rayna, the bad girl of the film, Rose Byrne proves that various dirty words said with a British accent become that much more hilarious.
British actress Miranda Hart plays Cooper’s sidekick Nancy, another CIA desk jockey who’s thrust into the thick of it without any prior field experience. I’d never heard of her before but her performance left me hoping to see more of her in the future.
Ultimately, this movie pokes fun at the James Bond films and yet, not only does it do that well, it becomes something special all of its own.
As you might be aware, Director Paul Feig and McCarthy are a comedic duo. Feig provides the film know how while McCarthy provides the laughs.
Up until now, the duo hadn’t provided a movie with intense action and special effects but if this film is an indication of what they are capable of, then this critic is resting a little easier knowing that the upcoming Ghostbusters reboot is in good hands.
STATUS: Shelf worthy.
Bookshelf Battle 