Film review: Spy (15)

I’ve so far managed to give the Melissa McCarthy hype train something of a wide berth, but I was always going to have to hop on eventually.

The larger than life actress has been making quite a name for herself in the comedy genre after starring in The Heat and Bridesmaids, but it’s fair to say she’s quite a devisive figure among audiences.

However, with big guns Jude Law (Sherlock Holmes), Jason Statham (Fast and Furious 7) and Rose Byrne (Bad Neighbours) for company, Spy – directed by Paul Feig (Bridesmaids) – does boast plenty of star quality.

McCarthy takes centre stage as CIA agent Susan Cooper. Although she’s qualified to do more, she’s stuck in the CIA’s rodent-ridden basement serving as the eyes and ears for James Bond-like agent Bradley Fine (Law).

It’s a role she’s been happily doing for a decade, but when Fine’s mission to hunt down a nuclear weapon goes south – and a host of CIA agents are compromised –she decides to sign up for a field operation to help track down Bulgarian arms dealer Rayna Boyanov (Byrne) and reclaim the WMD. That doesn’t go down too well with the established agents – including macho super spy

Richard Ford (a very funny Statham) – with Cooper considered way out of her depth.

Given a shockingly bad spy name and outfit, not to mention a box of tricks that includes items disguised as stool softener and treatment for fungal infections, Cooper is pretty much the reverse Bond, Bauer or Bourne.

With buddy Nancy (Miranda Hart) as her guide, hunting Boyanov sees “Coop” wreaking havoc around Europe – and there are actually some surprisingly good action scenes along the way.

Love her or hate her, McCarthy does deliver some laugh-out-loud moments, with a both brilliant and funny fight scene in a kitchen the stand-out moment.

There is a moment half-way through were her character flips somewhat into a foul-mouthed bad-ass – and it’s then that I really bought into McCarthy as an actress.

That being said, a lot of her gags do fall flat, with only a barrage of colourful language saving a number of otherwise forgettable scenes.

Law is his typically charming and slick self as Fine, while Statham provides the comic relief as a bone-headed agent that can do no right.

It was actually quite refreshing seeing him do something different and he drew quite a few laughs from me.

However, Byrne emerges as the real star of the show. She’s incredibly funny as a rather unlikely villain – with her brutal putdowns among the real highlights.

There’s also a great turn from Peter Serafinowicz (Guardians Of The Galaxy) as Aldo, an Italian agent who can’t get enough of Coop.

There’s a lot going on in Spy, perhaps too much. But there’s no denying that it has some humerous moments.

Personally, I don’t think it’s funny enough to be considered great, while the story is also pretty bog standard stuff. Still, Spy serves good light-hearted fun – and is very easy watching.

Voice Verdict: 7/10 (reviewed at West End Cinema, Boston)
+Very good cast
+Byrne and Statham are great
+Some surprisingly good action
– Bog standard story

SHOWTIMES

Boston’s West End Cinema (Fri, June 12 to Thurs, June 18)
Email: enquiries@westendcinema.co.uk
Box office: 01205 363634
Web: www.westendcinema.co.uk/SavoyBoston

**JURASSIC WORLD 3D (12A)
10.15am (Sat/Sun), 1pm (Sat/Sun/Wed), 4pm (daily), 7pm (daily)

**JURASSIC WORLD 2D (12A)
11.30am (Sat/Sun/Wed), 2.30pm (Fri/Sat/Sun/Wed), 3.30pm (Mon/Tues/Thurs), 5.30pm (daily), 8.30pm (daily)

INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 3 (15)
6.30pm (daily), 8.45pm (daily)

SPY (15)
12.20pm (Wed), 2.40pm (Fri/Sat/Sun/Wed), 6pm (daily), 8.40pm (daily)

SAN ANDREAS 3D (12A)
1pm (Sat/Sun/Wed), 3.30pm (daily), 8.30pm (daily)

SAN ANDREAS 2D (12A)
10.30am (Sat/Sun), 6pm (daily)

PITCH PERFECT 2 (12A)
4pm (daily)

AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON 2D (12A)
1pm (Sat/Sun)

HOME 2D (U)
10am (Sat/Sun)

KIDS’ CLUB
Sat/Sun 10.30am – Spongebob Squarepants Movie 2D (U)

SILVER SCREEN
Wed 11.30am – San Andreas 2D (12A)

** FREE LIST SUSPENDED

Spalding’s South Holland Centre (Fri, June 12 to Thurs, June 18)

AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON 3D (12A)
7pm (Sat), 7.30pm (Fri)

AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON 2D (12A)
2pm (Sat), 7.30pm (Tues)

FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD (12A)
11am (Wed), 2pm (Tues/Thurs), 6.30pm (Thurs), 7.30pm (Mon)

Box office: 01775 764777
Web: www.southhollandcentre.co.uk