As I was waiting in line to get my ticket for the screening of Melissa McCarthy's new comedy, "The Boss," an older gentleman in front of me turned around and said, "I really can't stand her," and nodded toward the poster of McCarthy's "The Boss" character, Michelle Darnell.
I replied, "So this is going to be a long movie for you then?"
"Eh, maybe it will surprise me," he said.
It didn't.
A Quick Review of "The Boss"
Let me start by saying that, unlike the older man who was in front of me in line, I like Melissa McCarthy. There is something captivating about her, and the wild antics she pulls off in her comedies always make me laugh. That doesn't mean she can save a movie by herself, though.
I only wrote down one note in the dark theater that I could read later about "The Boss," and it was that the first 15 minutes of it were "clunky af." You get a little backstory on why Michelle Darnell is the way she is (she was returned to the orphanage by three different families as a kid), flash forward to her in the present at a motivational seminar where she raps on stage to "All I Do Is Win" alongside T-Pain and then talks about how rich she is, and subsequently watch her get arrested for insider trading because her rival/former lover Renault (played by Peter Dinklage) turned her in. None of it makes much sense, and it's explained in the film about as well as I just explained it here.
Anyway, Darnell gets out of prison four months later and, left with nothing, shows up on the doorstep of her former assistant Claire (played by Kristen Bell). Insert your normal bad house guest shticks and clichés about a former rich person trying to live in a normal person's world, and you finally get to the plot. That's when Darnell goes to Claire's daughter's Girl Scout meeting (they are called Dandelions) and determines that she needs to start her own rival cookie business (you know, because she's a business guru) with the help of Claire's brownie-making skills. This is how she is going to get back on top!
Hilarity should ensue from here, but sadly, the only funny person in the movie is McCarthy. She is at her best when she is vulgar, intimidating and uses her sharp tongue to deliver perfect one-liners. There is plenty of this, along with the normal physical comedy we've come to expect from the plus-size actress (at one point, a couch-bed flips her violently and hilariously up into the living room wall, much to the delight of the whole theater). But the characters around her fail to deliver many laughs, especially Dinklage's Renault. It's almost like the script was written with the sole purpose of setting up McCarthy to bring it home, but it grows tiresome. And when you remember that the movie was co-written and directed by her husband, just like with 2014's "Tammy," it makes sense.
But I'm not here to talk about "The Boss" specifically. I'm here to talk about McCarthy's career as a whole. So let's get to it.
What's the deal with "Mike & Molly?"
Does anybody still watch this show? Does anybody like it? I know my parents did a few years ago, but I haven't heard them mention it since. Six seasons is nothing to sneeze at, but it's hard to understand how a "Roseanne" knock-off sitcom on CBS also features one of the most popular comedic movie actresses. And it's baffling that "Mike & Molly" is never the first thing people think of when they think of McCarthy. You almost have to remind them of it. Nor does anyone (or at least people like me) think of her earlier roles on "Samantha Who?" and "Gilmore Girls." I'm not saying there is anything wrong with this; it's just weird.
"Bridesmaids" Breakthrough
Speaking of weird, what the majority of people know McCarthy best from is her breakout role in "Bridesmaids." She's the lovable loon you can't help but laugh hysterically at, and she just fuckin' nails it. The only downfall, I feel, is that it led to her being somewhat typecast as a lovable, dim-witted loser, which resulted in the following two TERRIBLE films being made.
"Identity Thief" and "Tammy"
Believe it or not, these are not the same movie. Tammy is not a woman who stole the identity of Jason Bateman, and Diana is not the woman who went on a road trip with her trashy grandma played by Susan Sarandon. They are very easy to confuse and even easier to forget, because you probably only watched them once and thought to yourself afterward, "Huh, I expected that to be a lot funnier than it was." Then you moved on with your life.
What's amazing, though, is that McCarthy gets a free pass for these. It's almost like we all know that she's hilarious, and despite her movies sucking, we excuse her of any wrongdoing because she's so much fun. I'm not the first person to compare her to Chris Farley (and her tribute to him on SNL last year only strengthened the comparison), but I can't deny that she has some of the same larger-than-life qualities. But still, these movies were awful, especially "Tammy" (which was also co-written and directed by her husband).
"The Heat," "St. Vincent" and "Spy"
Thank god for "Spy." I have to admit that when it came out last summer, I had my worries that it was going to suck, especially because of the aforementioned bad taste left in my mouth by "Tammy." But a funny thing happens when Melissa McCarthy is in a movie with a good script, a talented director and a star-studded supporting cast -- it is fucking excellent.
Furthermore, it lets McCarthy show off her acting chops, which is an added bonus. This was more evident in the dramedy "St. Vincent" with Bill Murray, and even in 2013's "The Heat" alongside Sandra Bullock. The point being, McCarthy can be a powerhouse on her own, but when she's surrounded by skilled actors instead of trying to carry them, she seems to excel even more.
"Ghostbusters" Gold to Come?
I certainly hope so. I've already made it clear that McCarthy is better suited as an added asset to a larger ensemble of talent, and this certainly fits the bill. I would love nothing more than to enjoy the all-female reboot of the iconic '80s film. The fact that it's not written and directed by her husband is already a very good sign, but if it does suck, I can almost guarantee it won't be McCarthy's fault.
Related: A Fun Look At The Depressing Career Of Cuba Gooding Jr. Since His 1997 Oscar Win
