So I was lucky enough to go see a press screening of Spy (I was on the guest list, it felt very exclusive) and here’s my review of it.

So there are those who would discount a movie starring Melissa McCarthy movie as a dumb slapstick after the whole Tammy fiasco, but I’m happy to say McCarthy has been redeemed. Yes, the narrative, while it has its share of surprises, isn’t exactly mind-blowing, but that’ because it doesn’t go against what it is, a classic underdog story. And the movie isn’t a slapstick saturated with fat jokes, but rather its comedy comes from its characters. In fact, McCarthy, who plays Susan Cooper, is kind of badass. She starts off as a charmingly awkward underdog then morphs into Mullins from The Heat, demonstrating her range. Yet, surprisingly, Jason Stratham is the second star of this show, providing an amazingly funny semi-antagonist in his character, Rick Ford. After him, Peter Serafinowicz as Aldo. So yes the characters are stereotypical spoofs on common spy tropes, but they’re hilarious spoofs. Plus, Spy is progressive without trying to be and is a great movie if you just want an easy comedy with surprisingly great fight scenes.

One note, however, McCarthy and her ‘love interest’ Jude Law DIDN’T MAKE OUT. I mean, after all that work, I’m just saying.