I told you last week it was difficult to choose when two
movies came out the same week that were both excellent choices to watch and
just hinted that THE HEAT was the best comedy in ages. Well I decided that I
had to come back and tell you once more and to let you know that if you're
looking for a laugh then go check this one out today.
Sandra Bullock may have one an Oscar for her dramatic role
in BLINDSIDE but she's more known for her comedic roles. But over the past few
years she's released some decent comedies that just didn't take off like those
in her past. That's made up for here. Bullock stars as FBI Agent Sarah Ashburn,
a no nonsense top agent who solves more cases than most of her fellow officers.
Unfortunately her attitude is in serious need of adjustment. Ashburn suffers no
fools and often not only outshines her fellow agents but lets them know it too.
To say she's not popular is an understatement.
When a possible promotion comes up she's informed of this
problem and sent to Boston to help in an investigation of a drug lord that's
been untouchable to date. Following up where the clues lead, she arrives at the
Boston precinct just as a suspect has been placed in lockup. What she doesn't
know is the police officer who arrested this suspect and the way she handles
things.
Officer Shannon Mullins (Melissa McCarthy) is a die hard
cop, one who is also no nonsense but in a more in your face manner. Mullins
thinks nothing of slamming a suspect around or carrying more weapons on her
than most Marines. She's so tough that the rest of the police officers around
her are afraid of her, including her captain. When she learns that Ashburn is
interrogating her suspect rather than co-operate she heads straight for her.
The two part ways but in an attempt to get the information
she needs and to work with her counterpart, Ashburn tries to talk to her at a
bar not noticing when Mullins slips the FBI case file out of her purse. With
this information she shows up at the next suspect's house at the same time
Ashburn does and the two make an attempt to work as partners. What develops as
the film moves forward is a certain amount of respect that the two have for one
another ala the odd couple as they attempt to find the bad guy and take him
down.
There are several sub plots going on here as well, most of
them dealing with Mullins family or the fact that while these two women are
career minded they also tend to be loners. Neither has a deep friendship with
anyone else but you know before the end credits roll that one will develop.
Does that make the movie predictable? Sure but so what? People who dislike
movies that are predictable need to look closer because nearly every movie made
involves a story that's been told before. What makes a movie special is the way
it comes together or as in this case the life brought to it by the stars
involved.
These two ladies are tops in their field and bring the funny
to what could have been a boring movie. Bullock's straight laced, attractive
career girl with no man in her life and no one who likes her is loosened up by
the very open Mullins. McCarthy does what she's best at as the brashest of
characters whose love life is filled with guys she keeps running into but none
that she wants to stay with. Watching her hard facade ease up as she and
Ashburn work the case makes hers a more interesting character than one would
expect.
A word of caution and that is that the movie has more F
bombs in it than most films. While that makes it not a family friendly movie it
does end up providing some of the laughs here. I've only seen two movies that
have used the use of the word to full effect, this one and the car rental scene
in PLANES TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES. While it might get overused here there are
moments when it comes into play with the characters and their changes. Just go
in expecting it because it's used not for shock value but for character
development.
I've been surprised this past year. Twice I've seen comedies
that have made me actually laugh out loud even the second time around that I
watched them. THIS IS THE END was the first and this movie is the second. It
may not be a movie I'll watch week after week but it is one I'll be glad to add
to the collection of moves to keep. And when I need a good laugh, I'll put it
in the DVD player and start up.
Click here to order.
No comments:
Post a Comment