The Sunday Mail
Melissa McCarthy (Susan Cooper) during a chase scene from her new movie “Spy”
THE other day I read a disturbing article on some doomed Hollywood actors and actress whose upcoming releases may be their last.
Do not take me wrong. These guys are not set to retire. But their careers have been on a downward trajectory and one more flop could spell disaster.
Two names on that list stood out: Adam Sandler and Will Smith.
While the time for the “Fresh Prince” to exit the stage has certainly come, it saddens me to think the sun might also set for Adam Sandler.
For those who doubt that Will Smith should have retired ages ago, think “Focus” and “After Earth”.
I have been following the build-up to his upcoming release, “Suicide Squad” and I can smell an epic flop coming our way. “Suicide Squad” is a DC movie by Marvel Studios.
The film is going to be compared to “Guardians of the Galaxy”, a bar that has been set too high for Will Smith.
As for Sandler, well, his stock has fallen heavily at that – over the last couple of years.
With the exception of Netflix, no one wanted to get into bed with Sandler and his upcoming feature “Ridiculous Six”.
Sandler, much like Jim Carey, Kevin James, Steve Martin and to some degree the Wayans brothers, is an acquired taste and it takes a special kind of crazy to understand and fully comprehend his comedy. The fact that he makes films for special audiences does not usually translate to profit.
There is good news though. Someone is ready to take up the mantle; her name is Melissa McCarthy.
She has proven herself a very talented entertainer, able to outshine anyone. For goodness sake, she turned a B-plus movie into an instant hit with one scene in “Bridesmaid”, and carried Sandra Bullock in “Heat”.
Alone she is a star. But add writer/director Paul Fieg into the mix and you have pure gold.
Her latest offering “Spy” (now showing at Ster-Kinekor) is a parody that has all the elements that make McCarthy and a talented ensemble cast that includes Jude Law and action junkie Jason Stratham, a good watch.
Susan Cooper (McCarthy) is a teacher-turned-CIA analyst who ventures into the field when her partner Bradley Fine (Law) is killed and the identities of other agents are made public.
This movie is basically a one-woman show as McCarthy steals every line, every scene, every shot with a blend of action and comedy.
Yes, the plot is cliché-driven but it is still good for a healthy laugh.
Jude Law is outstanding but Stratham tries way too hard and lacks a funny bone in his anatomy.
One cannot speak about McCarthy without giving a shout out to Feig. The work the two have done needs an entirely separate article as they revolutionise the industry one genre at a time.
In “Bridesmaids” he showed how women can be silly and funny in slapstick comedy, and then took the male-dominated “buddy cop genre” and turned it on its head in “Heat”.
Next is a remake of ‘90s cult classic “Ghostbusters” – with an all-female lead. If you have not watched “Spy” yet, do so. You will love it.
