Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Jason Statham, Jude Law, Bobby Cannavale, Allison Janney
Director: Paul Feig
Genre: Comedy
Duration: 120 minutes
Now showing at Century Cinemax, Acacia Mall Kisementi and Cinema Magic, Metroplex Mall Naalya
Susan Cooper (McCarthy), despite being with the CIA for 10 years, has never been in the field. Instead, she has been fellow agent Bradley Fine (Jude Law)’s partner via satellite, in the confines of her less than attractive office space in the basement. During Fine’s latest case, involving Rayna Boyanov (Byrne), an arms dealer, he goes awol. To make matters worse, Boyanov knows the identity of all the field agents, who include Rick Ford (Stratham). The agency therefore needs to send someone who has never been in the field to stop Boyanov from making her next sale.
Enter Cooper. With the encouragement of a friend in the basement, she offers to take on the task, attracting scoffs from the likes of Ford. Nevertheless, she manages to convince her full-of-deadpan-humour boss to let her take it on. Since no one really respects her, she doesn’t get to enjoy the makeovers other spies usually do. Instead, she is turned into an old woman and her gadgets are disguised as things such as fungus spray. But she is not deterred.
In short, that’s the deal with Spy. Suffice it to say that it is a comedy that gets you laughing not because of tasteless jokes as comedy movies are turning out to be these days, but because of good acting, dialogue and Paul Feig’s gift. Feig’s gift is being able to infuse humour into a movie with a serious plot and managing to give the audience an equal dose of both –see Bridesmaids and The Heat for additional reference.
The cast, led by McCaarthy own their roles. For McCarthy, it is a relief to see her back in her funny element after whatever she was in the less than stellar Tammy. Then there’s Byrne, who gives as good as she gets when it comes to being the more than mean girl –her lines with McCarthy are as cutting as they are hilarious. As for Stratham, I don’t know what to say. He has acted as a tough as nails guy in so many movies that it is a hoot to see him dishing out comedy like he has always done it.
This is a movie that truly deserves its comedy billing. However, it is not the kind you want to watch with your mum or children given the strong language and violence.
