Melissa McCarthy was given the coveted Comedic Genius popcorn statue at the MTV movie awards this weekend, the first female to ever take home the honour. Of her historic status, she said “I am certainly, certainly not the first one to deserve it.”
McCarthy is, in fact, a tour de force, and “not afraid to be the butt of the joke” according to her speech (invaluable advice from her mother). She’s a frickin national treasure who keeps making very mediocre movies. What gives?
Paul Feig knows how to handle McCarthy – he directed her to breakout success in Bridesmaids, replicated it with The Heat, and wrote for her beautifully in Spy. But McCarthy keeps sneaking in movies between those triumphs, movies she ostensibly has a hand in writing herself, along with husband Ben Falcone, and those ones tend to crash and burn with big fat flames. That said, Melissa McCarthy has never had a flop. Of her worst-reviewed films, Tammy made $85M, and Identity Thief took in $135M. The Boss will likely nestle among them critically, but it was McCarthy who finally unseated Batman v Superman at the box office this weekend. Someone’s buying tickets.
I am buying tickets. I love her. I’ve loved her since her stint on Gilmore Girls 
(and am thrilled that she’ll return for the reboot). But falling in love with her on Gilmore Girls means I like her at her bubbly, beautiful best, not as the slob who falls down stairs. And I tend to think that Paul Feig, and most of the film going public, agree with me. The gags and the prat falls are beneath her. We’re tired of such juvenile physical comedy. She’s already proven that she’s better than it, and capable of so much more.
I can’t tell you that The Boss is a great movie, because it’s not. It’s totally uneven. But the thing about “uneven” is that it’s not universally bad either. In fact, it gave me the giggles (Her opening number? A delight. She had me at T-Pain). But then she’d get launched across the room again, her face splat against some unforgiving surface, and I’d be shaking my head again.
Melissa McCarthy is charming and lovable. She’s got great timing and she recruits some very talented co-stars (Kathy Bates being a particular favourite of mine). She’s not a buffoon, and any movie that attempts to make her into one isn’t going to cut it for me. I needed a little taste of McCarthy to get me through this godforsaken, unending winter (I know it’s spring, but try telling that to my home underneath 3 feet of snow) and
I got it. The Boss is unsatisfying, leaving me doubly impatient for this summer’s Ghostbusters reboot – luckily, with Paul Feig at the helm. I have every confidence that she’s going to deliver exactly what I’m hoping for, and here’s why. The big, brash McCarthy character? It’s being played by Leslie Jones. Melissa taking on a straighter character, and I bet that will suit me just fine.
ASSHOLES WATCHING MOVIES 
Gilmore Girls was my fave big time – Melissa deserves better scripts!
LikeLike
I definitely liked her “St. Vincent.” She was completely believable as the character, and demonstrated that she is indeed a talented actress. Hoping that she’ll get more parts that allow her to show off her range.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It might be just me but I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO over people who act by yelling all the time. Mccarthy, Jones, Ferrell YEESH!!
Hi!
LikeLike
Ah yes, why I won’t go to films like these. Too much slapstick, not enough smart humor. (I don’t get what passes for funny nowadays.)
LikeLike
I have never seen her in anything, but prat falls don’t do it for me.
LikeLike
Yes, I’m in complete agreement with you. I love her so much as an actress, but I wish she’d quit with the physical antics that end up being more cringe-worthy than funny. More movies like Spy for sure. That movie just let her play a great role and didn’t focus on her size or her playing an obnoxious character. My 16-year-old film-buff son refused to see The Boss with me. Like you, he doesn’t want to see McCarthy in baffoonish roles (he loved Spy). I have to give him credit for recognizing that. Oldest son went with me, and we had a great time. But yeah, not one of her best.
LikeLike
Bridesmaids was fantastic but she seems to be steadily becoming more and more typecast. I think she may be a one trick pony but I’ll be happy to be proven wrong.
LikeLike
Yeah, I think Paul Feig is someone who understand Melissa’s talents better than her husband and other filmmakers. I’m glad she’s going to do the Gilmore Girls revival as I just couldn’t imagine the show w/o Sookie and her freak-outs.
LikeLike
Might have to see this one then. I like her, too. I think I’m kind of sad to see “Mike and Molly” go.
LikeLike
I love Mellissa from her Gilmore Girls days, and there have been a few other films where she’s really been at her best. I hate the typecast though, she’s way too cool and good to be subjected to that.
LikeLike
Melissa McCarthy’s movies are a hit or miss for me. Might still see this one, and I’m looking forward for the Ghostbusters movie.
LikeLike
I’ll keep watching her movies even if she releases a “Jack and Jill” type Adam Sandler atrocity. I just love that woman toooo much 😀 ❤
LikeLike
I’m not a McCarthy fan at all, but I can’t not be happy that she’s selling tickets. That’s wonderful that a female comedian is doing that, and I thought she was great in Spy. That’s what I’d like to see more of from her. It’s a shame The Boss wasn’t better as I like Kristen Bell too.
LikeLike
I’ve only seen Melissa McCarthy in SPY which I absolutely love. Not sure I’m up for checking out her other movies like Identity Thief or TAMMY though. That said, I think she’s cool and humble, and happy to see her succeed. I might rent this one later as I also like Kristen Bell.
LikeLike
I haven’t seen her in too much, but she’s always been the very same character. Which is a bit boring, even if she still provides some laughs. Ghostbusters, though … the trailer / teaser hasn’t grabbed me …
LikeLike
I have to tell you I fell in love with her on Gilmore girls , and I’m going to get Netflix too;) now that I know she’s going to be on there . I love her in the movies, I’m not such a fan of her weekly series though;(
LikeLike
Yes!!! I love her from that and so it’s always hard for me to see her being gross because I always think of her as sweet and clumsy Suki.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol, yes!!!
LikeLike
Great review 🙂 I have not seen this yet, but it looks terrible. I can not say until I have seen it though 🙂 Anyway, keep up the great work as always 🙂
LikeLike
I like Melissa but this movies looks bad 😦
LikeLike
That should be “movie”, not “movies”.
LikeLike
I thought this was “Assholes watching Movies” not Melissa McCarthy fans trying to make excuses for her garbage movies you F’n Poser
LikeLike
If you’re not a Melissa McCarthy fan then you’re doing it wrong. And you’re F’n doing it wrong.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh I don’t need to make excuses for her. She’s a tremendous talent, point blank. And the movie, with all its flaws, made $68 million dollars. She’s consoling herself on a bed made of money tonight that RayDay doesn’t like her movie.
And either you didn’t see her movie, in which case you don’t know it’s garbage, or you did, which makes you a paying McCarthy fan yourself, regardless of whether you ended up liking it.
LikeLike