"The Heat" (2013)

 

There seemed to be a near universal agreement after the release of Bridesmaids that Mellisa McCarthy was the film's undisputed breakout star. So it was only a matter of time before a studio hoped lightning could strike twice with McCarthy's signature brash, filterless truth-telling smack. By pairing her with Sandra Bullock, no stranger to comedy, the film seemed poised to re-create the raunchy femme humor which garnered Bridesmaid much love and attention. But The Heat feels like a toned downed version of all the things which made Bridesmaids so well-regarded. Director Paul Feig, who also directed Bridesmaids, always seems to be holding back his stars, never letting them go too far. With McCarthy now in a lead rather than a supporting role, she's no longer allowed to run amuck nearly as much, always being pulled back in order to serve the needs of the narrative. At every turn, there always feels like studio notes stepping in to censor McCarthy's lovable recklessness.

There's certainly untapped brilliance in crafting a female equivalent to so-many 80's and 90's buddy cop comedies, such as Lethal Weapon and 48 Hours. The police case is almost besides the point serving as a convenient structure for whatever silliness the writers and actors can come up with. McCarthy and Bullock play familiar roles of straight-woman and loose-cannon, but they bring their own distinctive spin on it and have a great deal of fun and have a good rapport. Bullock is an FBI agent trying to get a promotion and forced to work with McCarthy's local Boston officer in order to take down a drug kingpin. In time they come to respect and understand one another, and yada, yada, yada.

For being an action-comedy, The Heat disappointingly skimps on the action. In stead, the film focuses on the give-and-take and the comedy of manners in the mismatched pair. While it's funny, the action almost becomes an afterthought. The film primarily borrows the comedy portion of its sources, and ends up being shaggier, sillier, and even a little more lightweight as a result. Now, the combination of McCarthy and Bullock is winning, especially McCarthy who is in command of her caustic schtick.

 Grade: ★★