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Spy

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Melissa McCarthy in Spy. (NuMetro)
Melissa McCarthy in Spy. (NuMetro)

What it's about:

Susan Cooper is an unassuming deskbound CIA analyst, and the unsung hero behind the Agency’s most dangerous missions. When her partner falls off the grid and another top agent is compromised, she volunteers to go deep undercover to infiltrate a deadly arms dealer’s ring and prevent a global disaster.

What we thought:

Following in the footsteps of Kingsman, Spy is solidifying the renewal of spy comedy films, and dominating as it went. Instead of getting giggles with a doofus wannabe-spy that just barely saves the world, we got an ass-kicking comedy goddess who not only knows her way around a gun but also know how to deliver knockout one-liners.

Melissa McCarthy’s best so far, Spy is a definite must-see if you are in some serious need of laughter in your life.

A CIA operative that works behind the desk is given the opportunity to go into the field when all active agents’ identities are revealed. Her mission is to hunt down a missing nuke which is set to be sold to America’s enemies and general amazingness ensues.

Director Paul Feig and McCarthy have a bit of history, having made Bridesmaids and The Heat together – two fantastic comedies – and one can easily see on-screen when an actor and their director have great chemistry between them. He also wrote the script, working on McCarthy’s best assets and her genial comedic talent edged on the film to greatness.

Besides the most unoriginal name for a movie, Feig managed to not make McCarthy’s character the butt of the jokes, but rather the master of the jokes, and the audience is definitely laughing with her and not at her. So much so that breathing might be a problem when watching this espionage. They will be teaming up again for the reboot of an all-female Ghostbusters, and I cannot wait.

Spy doesn’t only hang off McCarthy though, but is also bolstered by the best cast no one thought they wanted together. The biggest pleasant surprise was Jason Statham, who took the mickey out of his normal macho action-hero roles and brought a character to life that is both moronic and hilarious but still retains his badass badge. His character’s monologues are the stuff of legends.

Another British actress also made her mark, comedian Miranda Hart, as another desk CIA operative that helps McCarthy in her mission. It would be hard to imagine they are not best friends in real life as their banter felt so natural. Rose Byrne (Bridesmaids, Damages) has already proved her talents and her performance as the daughter of a dead mobster was as on-point as her other roles, including rocking the most hypnotising hairdo ever.

I would vote Spy as the best comedy of the year so far, although it is a close call with one of my other favourites of the year – Kingsman. If you liked that gentlemen soirée with fine tailored suits, you would also enjoy this progressive piece of fine spy comedy, proving once again that women leads can helm an action-packed film as much as any man.

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