Movie Review - Spy

Spy

2015

The Cast

So here we have another very unfunny comedy film.  Why is it people think swearing out of context is funny.  Swearing can be much more comedic when handled as part of a witty dialogue.  Then, of course, there are the standard poo jokes.  The even more used machismo parodies.  Based on the over-utilised underdog that learns to bite back and roar like a lion storyline.  With a twist that's so obvious, it's actually not a twist.  This is just a mash-up of the usual elements, however, writer and director Paul Feig does give us something new with them, he actually makes them boring.  Throughout the entire film, there were three places that made me smile and only one that made me laugh... and that was towards the end - a long time to wait.

Though I will say this for Feig, he really can direct a film.  The only thing which keeps this movie interesting is the direction.  There are quite a few decent camera shots and angles, well lighted and composed.  He's also pretty good at action.  The fight scenes are spot on and the chase sequences are excitingly filmed.  If it weren't for this and the cast the film would be a real dud.

As for the acting, this was below par for most of the cast.  And it was the lead role of  Susan Cooper (McCarthy) which spoils the film, instead of strengthening it.  This is mainly because McCarthy plays McCarthy:  Most of the characters she's played to date can be easily interchanged between their films, as there are very few differences.  It would be nice to see her stretch her acting wings in her next role.  Maybe if she actually had a good script and an original character to work with...

I watched this for Miranda; I wondered how good she would be in a movie.  She wasn't too bad; it was her scene that made me laugh, but there wasn't much to stretch her skills here.  And, for Jason Statham, as I've been a fan since I saw him in The One.  He has grown as an actor throughout his career, though, this feels like a few steps backwards.

If you're a McCarthy fan you should like this though it'll feel all too familiar, at times.  As for everybody else, it's an okay way to waste some time if you've got nothing better to do.

I give this a Stone-Faced Unsmirking but Action Packed 5 out of 10.

The Trailer