Director: Paul Feig
Writer: Paul Feig (Screenplay)
Starring: Melissa McCarthy, Jason Statham, Jude Law, Jessica Chaffin, Rose Byrne, Miranda Hart, Morena Baccarin
Plot: A desk-bound CIA analyst volunteers to go undercover to infiltrate the world of a deadly arms dealer, and prevent diabolical global disaster.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Plain ‘Comedy’
Story: Spy starts in Varan Bulgaria where Bradley Fine (Law) an undercover spy is trying to infiltrate the building where a party is going on above. When the mission goes wrong Bradley has to rely in his analyst Susan Cooper (McCarthy) to inform him where the henchmen are approaching from. Bradley seems to use Susan as a personal assist more than a co-worker or even partner making her do all the tasks he doesn’t want to do in everyday life.
Rayna (Byrne) the daughter of Tihomir Boyanov still knows where the bomb really is and Bradley next mission is to find her and the bomb. Susan confines in her good friend Nancy (Hart) who is very much like her also working for the CIA. Bradley goes on the mission only to find out this is a trap and Rayna has been planning to kill any CIA coming after her because she knows all the undercover spies.
Introducing Rick Ford (Statham) a foul mouthed agent that wants too go back into the field to find Rayna but the CIA need too find a new way to go undercover and that Susan volunteers to go into the field because no one will know her identity, can she find out the truth before the bomb goes off, even if Ricky Ford keep trying to get involved. While undercover Susan befriends Rayna only to find herself deeper than she ever imagined with no back up.
Spy shows why I just don’t get comedy, all I have heard is good things about this film but when it comes to actually watching I can’t help but feel like it was very blah. I understand the point is to put the most unlikely character into a situation you could never imagine them in but seriously we have seen this before and I am tired with the lazy jokes the film often resorts too. It doesn’t help that early this I got to see a not serious spy movie in ‘Kingsman’ which poked fun at the spy genre instead of what this film does. I am just getting tired of films that don’t come up with clever jokes and just try to resort to coming up with a new insult that we are meant to find funny. On the positive side it was great to see Jason Statham do comedy without actually doing comedy giving us a character that we actually laugh at, but when it comes to story we have seen this before give us something original. (5/10)
Actor Review
Melissa McCarthy: Susan Cooper is the gentle minded CIA analyst who has a brilliant partnership going with Bradley Fine keeping him safe until the latest mission ends up with Bradley dying. Susan volunteers to go undercover to find the people responsible but can she stay undetected from the people who have the bomb. Susan ends up getting very close to Rayna after saving her life but will this new friendship get in the way of discovering the truth about how dangerous the field work can really be. I am struggling to figure out why everyone finds her so funny, I just don’t get the humor she is meant to be offering up. (4/10)
Jason Statham: Rick Ford is the foul mouth tough as nails agent who likes to talk about all of the adventures he has been on and some how survived. He quits the force to find the bomb trying his hardest to prove that Susan isn’t the right person for the job. Jason is one of the two highlights of this film he steals every scene he is in playing the ultimate macho man that is full of complete bull. (8/10)
Jude Law: Bradley Fine I the slick agent that works with Susan, he gets his missions done and knows he always has Susan to cover his back but when he accidentally kills a suspect the daughter puts a bullet in him too or does she. Jude does a good job making fun at a role that he could have had once upon a time. (7/10)
Rose Byrne: Rayna Boyanov is the only person who knows where the bomb is and she isn’t letting out her secret and is willing to kill anyone who tries to uncover the truth about the bomb, including Bradley. Rayna ends up becoming friends with Susan after having her life saved. Rose is the other highlight of the film because she is almost unrecognisable throughout the film. (8/10)
Miranda Hart: Nancy is fellow analyst who works with Susan but once Susan goes into the field she becomes her eyes and ears trying to help her navigate her way around Paris. Nancy ends up in the field too as she goes in search for the radio silent Susan, leaving her completely out her element putting both their covers are risk. Just when I thought no one could be un-funnier than Melissa McCarthy welcome Miranda Hart with her awful comedy that I seriously don’t get. (3/10)
Support Cast: Spy has a supporting cast that really just end up being generic supporting henchmen of spies supporting roles through the film, each does get a few laughs but not enough.
Director Review: Paul Feig – Paul gives us a plain comedy that lacks too many laughs with characters that don’t really work. (5/10)
Action: Spy has mostly comical action sequences that like to try and poke fun at other films. (5/10)
Comedy: Spy has a few laugh but really does just resort to lazy sex jokes too often which don’t work in the spy film. (4/10)
Settings: Spy takes the action to all the generic places in Europe Paris, Rome before taking us to an Eastern European location for the final part. (6/10)
Suggestion: Spy is one for the fans of McCarthy to enjoy otherwise I feel you will miss this pint in most of this film. (McCarthy Fans Watch)
Best Part: Statham, Byrne
Worst Part: McCarthy and Hart.
Funniest Scene: Most of Statham’s scenes.
Believability: No (0/10)
Chances of Tears: No (0/10)
Chances of Sequel: It might have one.
Post Credits Scene: No
Similar Too: Johnny English
Oscar Chances: No
Box Office: $203 Million
Budget: $65 Million
Runtime: 2 Hours
Overall: Forgot too many laughs for a comedy but doesn’t offer enough action for an action film.
Rating
