SPY (2015) - Movie Review

The Second Blockbuster Spy movie of 2015

It definitely is the YEAR OF THE SPY!

The Plot

When the CIA's top agent, Bradley Fine (Jude Law), is killed by an arms dealer heiress, Rayna (Rose Byrne), who not only has possession of a nuclear bomb but the identities of every field agent in the CIA. The only option is to send in Fine's handler, Susan (Melissa McCarthy), to get close to Rayna and discover the location of the Nuke before it falls into the wrong hands. Believing that a desk agent is unfit to fulfill the mission, field agent Ford (Jason Statham) goes rogue in an attempt to complete the mission and prove Susan is not meant for the field. But there is more to this special agent than initially perceived.

Review

Paul Feig is probably the only director who knows how to craft a proper Melissa McCarthy vehicle. Because while McCarthy has made a name for herself in Feig's breakout film, Bridesmaids, and his follow up, The Heat co-starring Sandra Bullock, she has not made a great Hollywood film that isn't directed by Feig. Which is a shame because Identity Thief and Tammy threatened to cause the public to get tired of her "schtick." But luckily this film, and perhaps a small little indie film called St. Vincent, allows the audience to realize she's not a one note character.

McCarthy shines in this movie in a role that is completely different to what she's done in her previous big Hollywood films, while at the same time still maintaining the humor that she is known for. Here she plays Susan Cooper, a CIA Analyst who is desk bound and is merely the voice in Agent Fine's ear, guiding him on where he needs to go and warning him of impending danger. Fascinatingly enough, she actually joined the CIA to be a field agent but was talked into taking the desk job. This small bit of information makes her character a completely different animal to most Spy Parody movies. Meaning she is actually a competent agent. She's not a bumbling bafoon who gets lucky, she's actually capable of doing the job. But having a lack of experience does show she has a weak stomach for violence, and there is plenty. But what really makes doing her job difficult, and hilarious, is Statham's rogue Agent Ford.

Statham is definitely the true standout of this movie as he is pretty much playing a complete parody of himself. Statham's Ford is pretty much an over confident and condescending take on every character Statham has ever played in an action movie, spun to sound like his profile of being the perfect spy. His long speeches of how he is capable of doing anything, and I mean anything, because he is such a badass will definitely bring laughs to an audience who recognizes that he's pretty much attacking his action hero image in the most hilarious way possible. It is quite refreshing seeing the more capable agent being the bumbling fool this time around instead of the protagonist. This offers a completely fresh take on the spy parody as it makes us like McCarthy's Agent Cooper rather than wishing the movie was about Statham's Agent Ford. I'm looking at you Get Smart.

But while McCarthy and Statham are definitely the heavy hitters of the movie, they would be nothing without their supporting cast of agents and terrorists. Miranda Hart plays Nancy, the voice in Agent Cooper's ear and her best friend prior to becoming a field agent. She offers great support to McCarthy's Cooper, however it feels like she's barely in the film despite being sprinkled carefully throughout it. Peter Serafinowicz, most famously known as the voice of Darth Maul and Denarian Saal in Guardians of the Galaxy, plays Agent Aldo, Cooper's Italian contact who provides some of the best laughs in the film due to his constant need of physical contact with Cooper. Then there's Agent Cooper's nemesis, Rayna played by Rose Byrne, another actress who has skyrocketed in the comedy circuit thanks to Bridesmaids. Here Byrne plays the very definition of a Spoiled Bitch, which works great as both a satire on the rich and powerful as well as the stereotypical Bond villains. Bobby Cannavale also makes an appearance as a possible buyer for the Nuke, but that's all you really need to know.

What is probably the most shocking aspect about this film is how violent and action oriented it is. Now, this is nowhere near as violent as the first blockbuster spy film of the year, Kingsman, but while that movie was awesomely violent, this film is shockingly violent. This is mainly because the film is sold mostly as a comedy rather than an action film, which will catch people completely off guard when blood and gore enter the picture. Though I can't help but feeling this is director Feig's way of saying, "Hey! I can do other stuff besides comedy," and it shows brilliantly. The fights and action sequences in the film are well choreographed without falling too far into the trap of being parodies of Spy Movie action. They feel just right and not too over the top, making it very believable for McCarthy's Cooper to be a capable fighter in the film.

Final Thoughts

This is definitely the best film Melissa McCarthy has starred in so far. It is both funny and a smart way of subverting not just the spy genre but the spy spoof genre as well by not falling into familiar territory too much. Though it still is just as predictable as Kingsman, both films benefit by feeling fresh enough to make one forget just how worn out and predictable the spy genre is. With an all-star cast and a great use of humor at times that merit it, Spy is living proof that McCarthy can still make us laugh and that Paul Feig is the right person to helm the all female Ghostbusters reboot.

SCORE: 8/10 - A well executed subversion of the spy spoof genre, despite being cliche

Furious 7 - Review

"One last ride."

At this point, we know those words are bull shit. But to me, this is the perfect last ride for this franchise.... But it won't be.

The Plot

The sins of London from their previous job follows the crew home, as they are hunted by a ruthless assassin (Jason Statham). Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel), Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker), Letty Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez), Roman Pearce (Tyrese Gibson) and Tej Parker (Ludacris) ban together once again to combat an enemy capable of taking down their former nemesis, Agent Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson). But to turn the hunter into the hunted, they must strike a deal with the mysterious Mr. Nobody (Kurt Russell) in order to find the means to track down their untraceable foe.

Review

Ever since Fast Five steered this franchise into full blown action adventure genre and out of the very niche car racing genre, the movie going audience has become thankful ever since. And with this Seventh installment, we go into over the top territory with every single action movie cliche thrown in to make a satisfying cocktail of fast cars, manly fights, sexy women and most importantly: Family.

But things start immediately introducing us to the film's big bad, Deckard Shaw, played menacingly by Jason Statham. He's pretty much an evil James Bond with the cool cars and gadgets to enforce his cause. Deckard is a completely different animal compared to his brother Owen, the previous film's antagonist played by Luke Evans. From the very opening scene, we are immediately shown just how dangerous Statham's Deckard is, by how far he was willing to see his comatose brother in a heavily guarded hospital. Deckard is definitely the best villain this franchise has created, despite the fact that he only shows up when an action scene is necessary. That's where Dom and his crew come in.

By now, Diesel's Dom, Rodriguez's Letty, Walker's Brian, Gibson's Roman, and Ludacris's Tej have solidified themselves as extremely likable characters. And it helps, because the plot gets a little confusing later on, but luckily we have so many likable characters that make this incoherent plot watchable. However it is pretty clear that a lot of emotions were running high or stirring beneath each cast member, given the circumstances of losing one of their own before production of the film wrapped. Everyone in the main crew is delivering their A-game in acting for this film. Especially Jordana Brewster who plays Mia, sister to Diesel's Dom and wife to Walker's Brian. Her role may have been minimal, but she had the difficulty of delivering some dramatic dialogue to someone who is no longer with them. They're not Oscar worthy performances, but they are the best these actors have given in this type of film. All to honor their late co-star.

The handling of Paul Walker's passing in this film is definitely one of the highlights of the movie. It was treated with respect, yet it also shows how difficult it was to create something coherent when a major player in the film has to be slightly sidelined or shot in weird angles in order to get his side of the story across. But with what Walker's brothers, Caleb and Cody, could do by standing in his place and Weta Digital for placing Paul's face over their's, it all worked out in the end. Especially for the final moment in the film. But it is pretty obvious that it hurt the plot of the film, as it was definitely all over the place at times, but still finds a way to stay a little bit on course.

The action is as spectacular as ever, though this may also prove to be a growing weakness of the franchise for later films to come. This film pulled off some amazing set pieces involving cars, but the danger has become too heightened to the point where it becomes apparent that no one is going to die if they're in a car. And while new director James Wan is new to action, his car sequences are amazing, but his hand to hand combat sequences could use some work. They were not shaky cam, but they were rapidly editing almost to an unrelenting point of not being able to tell what is going on, that it might as well have been shot with shaky cam. They are still spectacular action, but it is obvious that this is the work of a director who hasn't fully grasped how to shoot action yet. But perhaps someday he'll fully engage in it.

While the film is ridiculously dumb fun that doesn't take itself too seriously, something the Transformers films should learn how to do, there are several negatives. The first being the plot. What started out as a simple revenge movie turned into the hunt for a MacGuffin in a government conspiracy movie. Yes, it is awesome to have Kurt Russell as a new badass character. And yes... Nathalie Emmanuel makes a God damn fine ass hacker in a bikini. But their involvement, along with the terrorists played by Djimon Hounsou and Tony Jaa, completely derails what could've been a simple straight forward plot like the previous two films. It could've been a simple horror movie on wheels with Statham's Deckard hunting down Dom's crew one by one till there is a final face off. And while that does happen, the government conspiracy plot looked more like a means to keep everyone alive and useful than have any real danger for the characters.

Then there is Brewster's Mia and Dwayne Johnson's Hobbs. Both of them are heavily important characters in the franchise, but only show up at the beginning and end of the film. Johnson's Hobbs, arguably the character that helped save the franchise in Fast Five was heavily missed as part of the team. But when he comes back into action, he does bring in the cavalry. One could only wish for more of him and Mia, and less of Ronda Rousey's attempt at acting. Yeah, she was only in one scene in the movie, but her acting was so bad that it stuck out in a movie that should be dumb fun. And the ending does enter superhero blockbuster final battle territory, which kind of felt out of place, but it's still pretty awesome!

Final Thoughts

It's really hard to truly be mad at any of the bad things in this film because it is definitely the most fun out of the re-energized franchise. I will say that it is the most rewatchable film in the franchise, but Fast Five and Fast Six are definitely the better films. But what this film does have to offer is a terrifying villain, spectacular action, melodrama about family, and most importantly of all: a touching and very appropriate send off to someone who is considered the most nicest man in Hollywood, Paul Walker.

SCORE: 8/10 - This movie should not work, but thankfully it did. RIP PAUL WALKER