Director: Paul Feig

Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Jude Law, Miranda Hart, Rose Byrne, Jason Statham 

Running Time: 2 hours 2 mins 

Rating: 15

Since her rise to fave in Paul Feig‘s smash hit BRIDESMAIDS as the straight talking, dirty-mouthed Megan; Melissa McCarthy has been super in-demand for comedy roles, staring in the like of THE HEAT and TAMMY and making a serious splash on the big screen. However, with great talent comes great responsibility and it’s easy for such a strong character actress to get typecast and forever replay the role of ballsy, loud-mouthed badass. 

From the trailers, Feig’s latest comedy SPY looked to be just that. One would be forgiven for easily dismissing it as just another chance for McCarthy to replay a Bridesmaids-esque character, something that is without a doubt enjoyable, but skirts the lines of becoming repetitive. Instead though, Feig writes a brilliant character for McCarthy to sink her teeth into; mixing a wonderful sense of vulnerability with that recognisable sharp-tongue that in turn, creates a likable and hilarious female character. 

McCarthy plays the slightly down trodden yet spirited Susan, a CIA agent who directs the field agents a vermin infested basement; a job less glamorous than her partner in crime, the charming and quick-witted Bradley Fine (Jude Law).  When Fine finds himself at the wrong end of a pistol, at the hands of crafty Brit bombs dealer Rayna (Rose Byrne), the big boss at the CIA is at a loss to who send in to take down Rayna as she knows the identity of all currently active agents, including loudmouth Rick Ford (Jason Statham). With Susan still mourning the loss of Fine and knowing that Rayna will never recognise her, she offers herself up for the job of stopping the beautiful criminal from handing over a monstrous bomb to the highest bidder of baddies. 

Feig knows funny and SPY is no disappointment in that area. With a sharp script, a silly sense of slapstick and just the right amount of C-bombs being dropped; Spy tickles the funny-bone throughout much of the enjoyably far-fetched narrative. With McCarthy at the forefront, she’s as funny as you’d imagine, with Susan taking on a few different car crash personas in order to hide her real identity. This can get a little repetitive and flirts too much with an overkill of self-deprecating humour. Luckily, Susan finds herself breaking free of such constrictions and finds her inner badass; releasing the right amount of sassy shutdowns in the form of pretty funny profanities.

The Brit influences within the film come from the likes of Law, Statham, Miranda Hart and Peter Serafinoicz and they’re absolutely brilliant; really aiding the narrative and kicking the comedy up a notch. Both Statham and Serafinoicz almost steal the show with their comedic performances. Statham plays the badass agent, Ford, who finds himself tailing Susan and getting into all kinds of trouble. Ford’s colourful language and long lists of ways in which he’s smashed through the boundaries of badass (like sewing his own arm back on) is a brilliant running joke and really shows Statham in a funny new light. 

Perhaps one of the funniest unexpected gems of the flick is Serafinoicz’s character Aldo, a Italian Lothario whose taste for dangerous women perks up when he’s introduced to Susan as her informant. His outrageous attempts to get a little Susan action and hilarious one-liners are truly brilliant and only boost Serafinoicz talent as a comedic actor. Aldo pops up within the narrative at all the right times, aiding to some well placed gross-out comedy and generally being brilliant. 

Well known for writing brilliant female character, Feig doesn’t disappoint with Byrne and Hart’s roles. Playing Susan’s confidant, Hart adds that great sense of British humour that she’s so well known for. Something that, quite surprisingly, works well within this mad, exceptionally American movie. Her physical comedy has always been impressive and her role within SPY is no less hilarious (a cameo involving 50 Cent is a particular highlight). Byrne’s performance as spoilt, resting bitch-faced Reyna is just as hilarious, with her cutting insults really bringing out the sass from Susan; their chemistry being a highlight on the film as a whole.

With big names like Feig and McCarthy attached to it, SPY will easily find its audience and entertain those who loved the likes of BRIDESMAIDS. For those a little tired on McCarthy’s reoccurring roles, you might find yourself fairly surprised and pretty amused. With great performances, hilarious writing and impressive action; SPY does contemporary, popular comedy right and runs with it. 

 Verdict

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