Spy (2015)

I surprised myself by watching this. Not only do I rarely like modern comedies anymore, but spy parodies are too easy and overdone. Still, it had been a while: Get Smart had its final adaptation in 2008, the last Austin Powers entry was in 2002, and James Bond hasn't felt like a self-parody since Die Another Day. More than that, I must have been in the mood for something female-centered (however tomboyish) after so many masculine works, and the fairly high marks across all major ratings sites got me curious.

Susan Cooper (Melissa McCarthy) provides remote tech support to the CIA's answer to Bond, Bradley Fine (Jude Law), from a vermin-infested basement. When an enemy in contact with Fine, Rayna (Rose Byrne), reveals knowledge of him and several other spies, Susan volunteers to enter the field as an unknown, with friend Nancy (Miranda Hart) doing for her what Susan did for Fine. Her mission is strictly track-and-report, but since only Rayna knows the location of an ill-gotten nuke, Susan reluctantly sees fit to do a bit more for Rayna's protection. A further complicating factor is rogue CIA agent Rick Ford (Jason Statham), who places a million times more faith in his own skills than in Susan's, but his contribution has mixed results. (Gee, a lot of British agents work for the U.S.)

Susan actually showed all-around excellent skills at the academy, but it's been a while; she had been content to whisper in Fine's ear for years due to a crush on him. Of course, he friend-zones her without recognizing her feelings. That ties into the biggest running theme of the movie: Nobody thinks much of Susan, presumably due to her appearance, particularly her obesity. Even her boss (Allison Janney), who got blown away by Susan's academy videos, picks sad-sack alter egos for her.

You may notice that unlike any Bond flick—or any of the other flicks I mentioned—this one is rated R. There is a bit more graphic violence and some brief male nudity, but I think the main reason is profuse swearing. Characters frequently say rude things to each other, especially Ford and, once she has to abandon her assigned identity, Susan. (Rayna makes it slightly funnier by speaking softly in an upper-class accent.)

Thankfully, Susan's not the next Roseanne. Nor the next Megan from Bridesmaids, despite Paul Feig directing McCarthy again. She is far more likable and, dare I say, relatable. We're not supposed to go, "Ha ha, what a vulgar fat jerk." Rather, when she does act that way, it's for show. She plays on expectations and then subverts them, which is pretty much what good comedy does all the time.

I can't say I loved the humor herein. Sometimes I chuckled; sometimes I found it just gross. To me, the most enjoyable aspect is the potential for empathy. Many of us have felt like Susan, underappreciated for superficial reasons. It's refreshing to see someone push back against impressions and, for all her obstacles, mostly succeed. To some extent, we get this with Nancy as well, but she doesn't garner nearly as much attention.

The action? Pretty typical of non-comedy action movies nowadays, so not bad if you can take a little gore. The plot's more complex than it had to be, too; I consider that a plus.

The ending, as befits the spoofed genre, suggests the possibility of a sequel. I kinda hope there is one. Things may just go above average from here.