"Spy" Review

Spy is another winning comedy from director Paul Feig (Bridesmaids, The Heat) and superstar Melissa McCarthy. This time working from a script by Feig, McCarthy finally has a proper starring vehicle in which she shows off not only her broad comedic range but a surprising knack for action set pieces and choreography. If this is any indication, the upcoming Ghostbusters reboot is in perfect hands.

McCarthy plays Susan Cooper, a CIA analyst with no field experience who gels nicely as the voice in the ear of field operative Bradley Fine (Jude Law), who fancies himself America's 007. Cooper has guided Fine safely through several missions until the identities of every field agent are compromised at the hands of a sexy arms dealer (Rose Byrne). As one of the few whose face would go unrecognized by the enemy, Cooper is sent in to infiltrate a plot to sell a nuclear warhead to terrorists.

The tired "fish-out-of-water" routine works so well here because Cooper is a perfect fit for it. McCarthy's talents don't quite work in every scenario (see Tammy), but it seems Feig has cracked the nut. That said, I can also understand why the actress's schtick does not appeal to some, as she frequently relies solely on her physique to generate laughs. To paraphrase The Hangover's Leslie Chow, it's funny because she's fat. But one can only fall over so many times before fatigue sets in for the audience as well as the star.

To counteract the slapstick, McCarthy has always had a quick wit about her as well. I've always found that to be her best asset, and it's used well in Spy with plenty of hilarious lines like "I would welcome that with an open mouth" after Fine says he could kiss Cooper for getting him out of trouble with some thugs on a mission in Bulgaria.

Not to be outdone by her silly brand of physical comedy is McCarthy's ability to literally kick ass. There's a scene in a kitchen in which Cooper engages a female terrorist (Nargis Fakhri) in hand-to-hand combat. To the surprise of just about every character in the film, Cooper is highly skilled in close-quarters combat and gunplay. It's put to stellar use here. With Cooper frantically wielding little more than frying pans and Tupperware against a trained killer with a knife, the scene is funny not because the character is scrambling for a way to defend herself but because it's so unlike anything we've seen McCarthy pull off with any of her characters so far. And I'm not kidding when I add that it's as visceral a fight scene as anything Bourne or Bond has ever given us.

The leading lady is given a wonderful supporting cast featuring Law, Byrne, Bobby Cannavale, Allison Janney, Peter Serafinowicz, and Jason Statham, who shows a brilliant knack for quick-witted comedy himself. Statham is really the standout of the supporting players in the role of Rick Ford, a disgruntled CIA agent who disavows the agency when they send Cooper into the field over him. Statham's comedic timing is spot on as he shares plenty of screen time with the heavy-hitting McCarthy. Any foil of hers needs to step up to the laughing plate in a big way, and Statham succeeds. I'm hoping we see more action/comedy from him in the future.

With no artistic aspirations or pretense, viewers should be well aware of what they're getting themselves into with a McCarthy vehicle like Spy. That said, those willing to bite will be treated to the funniest comedy of 2015 so far.

B