Melissa McCarthy finally gets a decent star vehicle, even if the irony of Spy is that most of the laughs come from its supporting characters. McCarthy plays Susan Cooper, a CIA desk analyst who finally gets a chance in the field – only to be typecast by her superior (a delightfully droll Allison Janney) with undercover personas such as a cat lady or dumpy mother of four. My favorite moment involved Jason Statham, of all people, tweaking his own image as a sexist uber-spy. He delivers a hilariously obtuse monologue touting his past ludicrous adventures without batting an eye. (McCarthy’s timing as the straight person in the scene is impeccable.) Rose Byrne is amusingly egotistical as a ruthless arms dealer, while British comedian Miranda Hart, as Susan’s friend and co-worker, squeezes in a killer line here or there in what would have previously been the Melissa McCarthy sidekick role. Spy legitimizes McCarthy’s promotion to star status, even if it never fully unleashes the sort of unhinged, comic fury at which she excels. Written and directed by Paul Feig, who also worked with McCarthy on Bridesmaids and The Heat.
