“Spy” is a balls-to-the-wall, mile-a-minute laugh fest that plays as if custom made for the comedic talents of its stars, Melissa McCarthy, Jason Statham, Rose Byrne, Jude Law, Allison Janney and Bobby Cannavale. Setting “Spy” apart from other McCarthy comedies which, let’s face it, have been less than funny of late and leaving much to be desired by way of story and character, “Spy” is smart and smartly written with a tightly crafted story, high comedic notes, exceedingly well developed characters, plus some James Bond level action.
Susan Cooper is a 40-something CIA analyst and intelligence specialist stuck in the basement office of CIA HQ, infested with bats, rats and other assorted vermin – both two and four legged. She serves as the eyes and ears to super spy Bradley Fine. Their latest mission finds Fine trying to locate and stop the sale of a nuclear bomb in Eastern Europe. From the get-go it’s obvious Susan is the brains of the operation (not to mention longing and lusting for Fine), although she is generally thousands of miles away tapped in to him through high-tech surveillance equipment. Unfortunately, the operation goes wrong and Fine is assassinated by Rayna Boyanov, the haughty elitist daughter of a recently deceased Bulgarian arms dealer who just happened to be her father.
Still needing to complete the operation before possible world destruction, the Agency Chief looks for a new operative. Agent Rick Ford, the obvious choice for the task, throws a hissy fit and quits the Agency when the Chief says he’s too recognizable; in fact, all of the operatives are. Cooper, wanting to avenge the death of Fine, begs for the assignment. Despite Cooper’s extensive CIA field training and high scoring exercises before becoming a “desk jockey”, the Chief is reluctant to put her in the field. Ultimately acquiescing to the undercover op, it’s on the condition the mission is to track-and-report the whereabouts of Rayna and hopefully, Sergio De Luca, a suave terrorist withe megalomaniacal ideas. Needless to say, once she gets into the field, Susan Cooper is not one to just “track-and-report”. And that’s where the hilarity turns into an E-ticket ride!
While McCarthy is always hit and miss with me, all I can say about her performance here as Susan Cooper is this: Move Over Mata Hari! McCarthy is on fire! A role that is not only perfectly suited to McCarthy’s persona, it is tailor made to showcase her true range of comedic skills. Never funnier, what makes this performance a comedic standout for her is the character arc and the emotional nuance that she brings to Susan. We saw this emotional sincerity from McCarthy in “St. Vincent” but never before in her comedic roles, per se.
As fellow spy gone rogue, Rick Ford, Jason Statham breaks into an exaggerated Cockney accent and plays to one of his more unknown strengths – comedy. Joining the mix as the heartthrob James Bond-esque Bradley Fine is Jude Law. And yes ladies, he is very fine. In a fun turn, Bobby Cannavale (looking more like a very tan and sophisticated young Andy Garcia) gets to really play as the suave debonair terrorist Sergio De Luca. Haughty delicious decadence perfectly describes Rose Byrne’s Rayna. Clearly relishing the role, Byrne goes toe-to-toe with McCarthy with every barb, bite and head butting and has you begging for more. Terrific supporting turns come from Allison Janney as the Agency Chief, and a delightfully ditzy take on Cooper’s friend and colleague, Nancy, is courtesy of Miranda Hart.
Written and directed by Paul Feig, “Spy” pays its own homage to action heroes and the spy thriller genre over the decades with touchstones and nods peppered throughout the film. Practical physical stunts are intense and believable. Working hand-in-hand with cinematographer Robert Yeoman, the pair create a palette that is light, bright, colorful and entertaining on every level. Never feeling cheap or cheesy, lensing captures the beauteous locations of Hungary and to a lesser degree, Rome and Paris, giving the film real international depth and scope thereby fueling the spy thriller mythology.
Polished technical levels showcase the work of production designer of Jefferson Sage while elevating the film as a whole. Editing by the team of Mellisa Bretherton and Brent White is rapier and crisp, creating a welcome non-stop adrenalin rush pace. Theodore Shapiro’s scoring is eclectic and distinctive yet filled with recognizable genre touchstones.
Stay for the credits! This is an absolute must as they are not only hilarious, but serve as yet another chapter in the ongoing “Spy” story and not to be missed.
Cover’s blown! No secret here. “Spy” is without a doubt the funniest film of the summer, guaranteed to have you laughing from beginning to end and begging for more.
Written and Directed by Paul Feig
Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Jason Statham, Jude Law, Allison Janney, Bobby Cannavale
