Spy (2015)

[Edgy MD]

When a CIA analyst (Melissa McCarthy) has the dashing field operative she supports (Jude Law) killed while she's communicating with him remotely, she puts her training to use and heads into the field, seeking to track down the Russian arms dealer (Rose Byrne) behind the kill. Fellow agent Jason Statham totally isn't into her.

Hijinx? Oh, they can't help but ensue. Viewing this evening. Lady's choice.

McCarthy is totally irresistible. Ditto the movie.
— Peter Travers·Rolling Stone

Don't lead me astray here, Travers. The last McCarthy movie you steered innocent moviegoers to was crap.

[Edgy MD]

Pretty good, though it takes a while to find it's voice. Designed on the James Bond template, with the mid-mission cold open, followed by a title sequence filled with sexy silhouettes panning across the screen and a title song by an elegant and exotic chanteuse. The hook, such as it is, is that McCarthy's character, working on the back end of the spy business, only appears to be an unassuming frump, but has vicious and effective violent instincts once released into the field.

Rather than make up a spy organization, she supposedly works for the CIA, which is strange, because the CIA ends up looking profoundly stupid. Plus, half their agents seems to be British.

Some of the best comedy in the first half comes from Jason Statham (who knew?), as a loose-cannon rival agent consumed by his self-mythology.

Three stars out of five. I'm willing to be talked up to three and a half. Lots of low-humor, which works more in the second half. The first half, you mostly feel like you're wallowing.

[Edgy MD]

Turning point of the film set to this catchy little rocker by a group of Baltimore babies with the good taste to borrow their riffs from Billy Squier.

[youtube:1dsos93n]DSUMF5bSGTI[/youtube:1dsos93n]

[Lefty Specialist]

Tenuous Metly connection: Drummer is wearing a Tidewater Grain shirt.

[Frayed Knot]

3 stars from me also.
Nice little silly spoof of the spy movie genre that worked mostly because it had McCarthy to pull it off, although, as noted, some good surrounding characters as well.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I'll take your word for the second half because me and Lady Bucket both fell asleep during the first half.

[Edgy MD]

You didn't make it to Bad Seed Rising?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Everybody Wants You To Stay Awake Till The Second Half Of This Movie