[imdblive:id(tt3079380)]

[imdblive:locale(en)]

Spy

Release Date: [imdblive:date]

Certificate: [imdblive:certificate]

Director: [imdblive:directors_nolink]

Cast: [imdblive:cast_nolink]

Runtime: [imdblive:runtime] mins

Plot: [imdblive:plot]

Paul Feig and Melissa McCarthy once again join forces to deliver a film that teeter’s on being a spoof. The spy/buddy cop comedy genre has been exhausted as of late and this latest entry, while being mildly amusing, fails to stand out amongst the crop.

Take an overweight woman desk woman in the CIA, place her out of her comfort zone and comedy should ensue. This is essentially the plot and while there is more to it than this, this is what the film spine hinges upon. We’ve seen this done time after time and this film does very little to alter the generic formula. Perhaps the only thing this film has going for it, is its well choreographed action scenes – which are far better executed than the comedic elements. The first half of the film is painfully dull, with a dreary Miranda Hart failing to provide any humour. Jointed with this, is Melissa McCarthy’s typical humour – jokes about her being overweight and unfit for the task she is about to take. The film improves in the second half when McCarthy ceases to laugh at herself and instead embraces her foul-mouthed character similar to that from ‘The Heat’. Bits of this are funny, but even still it all feels a bit to ‘try-hard’. Excessive swearing and penis jokes get a bit boring and are used far to frequently, making them sluggish and petty later on. Statham and Rose Byrne are equally as funny, with both playing eccentric characters that satirise their previous roles in films. Jude Law is depressing and so is 50 Cent’s cameo which is cringe worthy. Aside from a few funny moments, this films redeeming quality is the action which is fun to watch. Where the action in ‘The Heat’ was secondary to the comedy, the roles have been reversed in this film. Nevertheless, exciting action sequences often got spoilt with silly ‘jokes’ that interrupted their flow – especially in the opening sequence.

Overall, the film screams desperation. McCarthy yet again lands a role in which she mocks herself for the first half of the film – something which is beginning to get very tiresome. The action is good but spoiled with Feig’s flawed sense of confidence that anything he pencils in is comedy gold.