Spy (2015)
June 12, 2015 8:28 AM - Subscribe
A desk-bound CIA analyst volunteers to go undercover to infiltrate the world of a deadly arms dealer, and prevent diabolical global disaster.
I loved the crap out of this movie, my abs actually ached a little bit afterwards because I was laughing so much.
Was that Paul Feig that walked into the wall in the hotel?
posted by everybody had matching towels at 8:53 AM on June 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
Was that Paul Feig that walked into the wall in the hotel?
posted by everybody had matching towels at 8:53 AM on June 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
"Excuse me, do you know if there's a Popeye's around here? I saw a KFC over there, but I'm really more of a Popeye's guy-- WHOA WHOA I'll ask someone else, I'll ask someone else!"
posted by doctornecessiter at 9:02 AM on June 12, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by doctornecessiter at 9:02 AM on June 12, 2015 [4 favorites]
"Well I make a habit out of doing things that people say I can't do: Walk through fire, waterski blindfolded, take up piano at a late age."
posted by everybody had matching towels at 9:07 AM on June 12, 2015 [9 favorites]
posted by everybody had matching towels at 9:07 AM on June 12, 2015 [9 favorites]
"...she salvages the situation by coming up with a second cover story on the fly, it skyrockets into hilarious."
That was a great way to let McCarthy play a character that's less caustic than her typical movie persona, but then that character can let loose some classic McCarthy bite within her portrayal of "Amber Valentine". Loved it.
Also loved Rose Byrne's first attempt to slide the gun across the floor to McCarthy...What a great little character moment, to add on to her dainty little walk (and crawl)!
posted by doctornecessiter at 9:09 AM on June 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
That was a great way to let McCarthy play a character that's less caustic than her typical movie persona, but then that character can let loose some classic McCarthy bite within her portrayal of "Amber Valentine". Loved it.
Also loved Rose Byrne's first attempt to slide the gun across the floor to McCarthy...What a great little character moment, to add on to her dainty little walk (and crawl)!
posted by doctornecessiter at 9:09 AM on June 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
The character of Rick Ford (constantly overconfident, constantly getting in the way, not obviously bumbling or clumsy-looking), played by Jason Statham, was wonderfully conceived, well-written, and made me happy.
posted by amtho at 9:30 AM on June 12, 2015 [8 favorites]
posted by amtho at 9:30 AM on June 12, 2015 [8 favorites]
Stay put for ALL the credits.
posted by brujita at 10:32 AM on June 12, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by brujita at 10:32 AM on June 12, 2015 [5 favorites]
I loved this movie so much. And I was so happy that almost every scene passed the Bechdel test, and that Melissa McCarthy genuinely kicked ass. I wasn't really expecting a lot from this after the previous Feig-McCarthy movies, but this was just gold. And yes, Jason Statham was BORN to play Ford.
posted by leesh at 1:06 PM on June 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by leesh at 1:06 PM on June 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
The oddly affectionate/seethingly hostile relationship between her and Rose Byrne's character really elevates the whole film.
This. Rose Byrne's catty snottiness is so much fun.
posted by leotrotsky at 1:41 PM on June 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
This. Rose Byrne's catty snottiness is so much fun.
posted by leotrotsky at 1:41 PM on June 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
"You're funny. It's the Bulgarian clown in you."
posted by leotrotsky at 1:43 PM on June 12, 2015 [6 favorites]
posted by leotrotsky at 1:43 PM on June 12, 2015 [6 favorites]
"You may never be as wise an an owl, but you'll always be a hoot to me."
"What a stupid fucking retarded toast, you're delightful!"
posted by leotrotsky at 1:45 PM on June 12, 2015 [5 favorites]
"What a stupid fucking retarded toast, you're delightful!"
posted by leotrotsky at 1:45 PM on June 12, 2015 [5 favorites]
It was hilarious. The unicorn line still has me laughing.
"Well I make a habit out of doing things that people say I can't do: Walk through fire, waterski blindfolded, take up piano at a late age."
Before seeing it, I'd heard a movie reviewer reveal that the outlandish things Rick Ford claims to have pulled off are things Statham has done as characters in other films. I think it was a great idea to make jokes out of his real action hero history but a lot of the references went by me since I haven't seen all of his movies. AFAIC, they can leave that gag behind for the (inevitable) sequel.
posted by fuse theorem at 4:41 PM on June 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
"Well I make a habit out of doing things that people say I can't do: Walk through fire, waterski blindfolded, take up piano at a late age."
Before seeing it, I'd heard a movie reviewer reveal that the outlandish things Rick Ford claims to have pulled off are things Statham has done as characters in other films. I think it was a great idea to make jokes out of his real action hero history but a lot of the references went by me since I haven't seen all of his movies. AFAIC, they can leave that gag behind for the (inevitable) sequel.
posted by fuse theorem at 4:41 PM on June 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
I'd heard a movie reviewer reveal that the outlandish things Rick Ford claims to have pulled off are things Statham has done as characters in other films
I didn't know this, so the references were not part of my experience at all, and I thought it was _hilarious_. I mean, they all sounded like actual sequences from action movies, which made them perfect in a way. Learning this, from you, now, just gave me a little bit more enjoyment of this movie.
posted by amtho at 5:19 AM on June 13, 2015 [3 favorites]
I didn't know this, so the references were not part of my experience at all, and I thought it was _hilarious_. I mean, they all sounded like actual sequences from action movies, which made them perfect in a way. Learning this, from you, now, just gave me a little bit more enjoyment of this movie.
posted by amtho at 5:19 AM on June 13, 2015 [3 favorites]
I can't wait to see this. In fact, I may even grit my teeth and go to a theater so as to reward the movie industry for Melissa McCarthy finally, finally getting intelligent material worthy of her considerable talents that doesn't require her to be constantly degraded and the butt of every joke. Also happy to see Rose Byrne doing more comedy; she was one of the bright spots of Bridesmaids.
posted by FelliniBlank at 6:31 AM on June 13, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by FelliniBlank at 6:31 AM on June 13, 2015 [2 favorites]
"During the threat of an assassination attempt, I appeared convincingly in front of congress as Barack Obama."
To clarify my earlier comment, not all the things.
I guess that's what really annoyed me, that it wasn't always easy to distinguish between the claims that were plain lies and the ones that actually were references to Statham's work in other films. Maybe it would've been better not have been spoiled about his dialogue because I kept trying match what he said to the movies of his that I had seen. It was distracting.
posted by fuse theorem at 7:20 AM on June 13, 2015
To clarify my earlier comment, not all the things.
I guess that's what really annoyed me, that it wasn't always easy to distinguish between the claims that were plain lies and the ones that actually were references to Statham's work in other films. Maybe it would've been better not have been spoiled about his dialogue because I kept trying match what he said to the movies of his that I had seen. It was distracting.
posted by fuse theorem at 7:20 AM on June 13, 2015
The trailers for this were at Mortdecai Poster-level ubiquity to the point of becoming a running joke among my regular movie-going crew. And the trailer was terrible - full of lol-she's-fat jokes - we decided that the only thing that could redeem it would be if McCarthy got a sex scene with the Stath. And lo and behold, it was pretty funny AND we got our wish (kinda). Some of the scenes were overlong, but the sheer skill of the performers was on display and the jokes that landed were good enough to forgive the ones that didn't.
posted by Gin and Broadband at 8:12 AM on June 13, 2015
posted by Gin and Broadband at 8:12 AM on June 13, 2015
Hmmm... honestly, I didn't love it. It had its moments, but I don't enjoy "fat lady is awful cat lady with hideous hair and hideous everything and fat people are just hideous and unwanted sexually except by creeps"-type jokes and just end up feeling bad instead of hahahahlarious. I've never watched anything of Melissa McCarthy's before because I figured shit like that was going to happen, and sure 'nuff it did.
But that said, I do enjoy her beating on people, and the credits (especially "Operation Clean Jerk," i.e. "rescue Rick Ford from the Italian mafia"), and they certainly tried, and generally made her look competent, so yay for that.
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:28 PM on June 14, 2015
But that said, I do enjoy her beating on people, and the credits (especially "Operation Clean Jerk," i.e. "rescue Rick Ford from the Italian mafia"), and they certainly tried, and generally made her look competent, so yay for that.
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:28 PM on June 14, 2015
Thought it was a little uneven.. a mix of clever gags and lazy stuff that just relied on profanity. Felt like they made it R-rated just to make it R-rated.
posted by starman at 7:13 PM on June 14, 2015
posted by starman at 7:13 PM on June 14, 2015
Thought it was a little uneven.. a mix of clever gags and lazy stuff that just relied on profanity. Felt like they made it R-rated just to make it R-rated.
No, they made it R rated to save me from the fourteen thousand children who were milling around in the movie lobby when I got out of the theater. (I don't know what they were there to see but jesus like four of them were screaming and a group of them was running and one of them had popcorn stuffed in its nostrils.) Never been so thankful for dick pics. They kept out the younguns.
Anyway, just got back from this. I was pretty pleased. I'm trying to think and I'm pretty sure I've never actually seen Jason Statham in any movies, and tbh I this is the best and only way I ever want to see him in anything else. So damn perfect. I rarely HAHA laugh at straight up comedy movies, but I was HAHA laughing through this whole thing, so much so that I honestly don't remember a best joke. There was a lot of solid material in there, and I was really glad to see that very little (none? almost none?) was at the expense of MMc's weight or simply being a woman. The dowdy cat lady gag worked because it was the opposite of the character she actually was once she hit her stride.
That said, I'm always a sucker for a good "reject Von Trapp child" joke.
posted by phunniemee at 3:13 PM on June 15, 2015 [4 favorites]
No, they made it R rated to save me from the fourteen thousand children who were milling around in the movie lobby when I got out of the theater. (I don't know what they were there to see but jesus like four of them were screaming and a group of them was running and one of them had popcorn stuffed in its nostrils.) Never been so thankful for dick pics. They kept out the younguns.
Anyway, just got back from this. I was pretty pleased. I'm trying to think and I'm pretty sure I've never actually seen Jason Statham in any movies, and tbh I this is the best and only way I ever want to see him in anything else. So damn perfect. I rarely HAHA laugh at straight up comedy movies, but I was HAHA laughing through this whole thing, so much so that I honestly don't remember a best joke. There was a lot of solid material in there, and I was really glad to see that very little (none? almost none?) was at the expense of MMc's weight or simply being a woman. The dowdy cat lady gag worked because it was the opposite of the character she actually was once she hit her stride.
That said, I'm always a sucker for a good "reject Von Trapp child" joke.
posted by phunniemee at 3:13 PM on June 15, 2015 [4 favorites]
I don't enjoy "fat lady is awful cat lady with hideous hair and hideous everything and fat people are just hideous and unwanted sexually except by creeps"-type jokes
The clearly acknowledged underlying frustration that that's how other people perceived her despite her demonstrated competence made those meta rather than ha-ha-fat-lady.
posted by sonascope at 2:32 PM on June 16, 2015 [8 favorites]
The clearly acknowledged underlying frustration that that's how other people perceived her despite her demonstrated competence made those meta rather than ha-ha-fat-lady.
posted by sonascope at 2:32 PM on June 16, 2015 [8 favorites]
Miranda Hart (one of the best reasons to watch Call the Midwife) was great in this movie too, from the scene in the bar to the scene with the helicopters.
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 10:19 PM on June 17, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 10:19 PM on June 17, 2015 [3 favorites]
Just got back from seeing this and thought it was super fun. Melissa McCarthy is just the radiant center of the movie, it feels like she's got this, so everybody sit back and enjoy the funny. I wish I had seen it in a full theater because that comedy energy is great when you're part of a crowd that's having a good time, but even with the five people in the theater, I laughed out loud at a lot of stuff. And the action was solid! The fight scene in the kitchen was great.
My only quibble is the barf. I'm not an emetophobe, exactly, but I'm not a fan, and it wasn't necessary.
posted by PussKillian at 6:27 PM on June 20, 2015
My only quibble is the barf. I'm not an emetophobe, exactly, but I'm not a fan, and it wasn't necessary.
posted by PussKillian at 6:27 PM on June 20, 2015
I liked this movie more than I disliked it, but I think it could have been great if they had aimed for middlebrow rather than lowbrow. Spy scenes like the knife fight were funny and exciting. But then you have cleavage mice and 50 Cent cracking jokes in a helicopter.
The plot was nearly as complex as Primer. Who was the woman in the green dress and how was she related to anyone else? No idea.
posted by painquale at 4:30 PM on July 5, 2015
The plot was nearly as complex as Primer. Who was the woman in the green dress and how was she related to anyone else? No idea.
posted by painquale at 4:30 PM on July 5, 2015
This was better than expected and approximately a million times better than The Heat, and I felt so burned by the McCarthy movie experience after that one that I didn't know if I'd be back for more, but Spy had some legitimately funny moments and I thought she was very funny.
The movie only had a few really cringe worthy parts to me where I wish they had just skipped those lines (none were McCarthy's), so the fact that I was able to go almost the whole movie without being hugely annoyed made a big difference. The plot itself was silly, but I didn't care. I enjoyed this substantially more than either of the two most recent James Bond films.
posted by MoonOrb at 10:53 PM on July 18, 2015
The movie only had a few really cringe worthy parts to me where I wish they had just skipped those lines (none were McCarthy's), so the fact that I was able to go almost the whole movie without being hugely annoyed made a big difference. The plot itself was silly, but I didn't care. I enjoyed this substantially more than either of the two most recent James Bond films.
posted by MoonOrb at 10:53 PM on July 18, 2015
I loved this so much! I got to see it this weekend. I agree, the cat-lady and whatnot was more meta-commentary than actual digs at McCarthy. And I also loved the random male nudity thrown in there. It felt like it was on purpose for all of the female nudity that occurs in most other spy movies. I love how McCarthy just walked away from the Italian spy's yammering AND from Statham's similar yammering. Ha! Definitely examples of how some men just keep talking, expecting women to act as an audience for it, and McCarthy just doesn't even have the patience for it. LOVE IT.
In the bathroom after the movie, there were three elderly women talking about it - slutty dolphin trainer costume, etc. One said it was her second time seeing it, she loved it so much. YES!
posted by jillithd at 7:07 AM on July 20, 2015 [4 favorites]
In the bathroom after the movie, there were three elderly women talking about it - slutty dolphin trainer costume, etc. One said it was her second time seeing it, she loved it so much. YES!
posted by jillithd at 7:07 AM on July 20, 2015 [4 favorites]
The worst part of this movie were the posters advertising it. They didn't convey that while it while it was a comedy the actual plot was serious unlike the Austin Powers films were the plot is....uh....... plotless?
posted by I-baLL at 9:02 AM on July 31, 2015
posted by I-baLL at 9:02 AM on July 31, 2015
I'm rewatching this and I still really like it. It combines action and comedy which is pretty rare. I also love how throughout the whole movie, Melissa McCarthy's character is capable - not always confident but she doesn't have the kind of dummy-to-genius transition that similar movies feature when a character gets thrown in to a crazy situation. It also seems like they dress Melissa McCarthy well, except when they intentionally make her look dumpy. I thought the subtle ways in which the other characters reveal their assumptions about McCarthy's character were interesting, like when they ask about her cats.
I also really enjoy Allison Janney's character. My father always took me to see spy movies with him and there's a part of this one where Allison Janney, Miranda Hart and Melissa McCarthy are all in the scene and it warmed my heart. And Jason Statham was hilarious. Here's hoping for a sequel.
posted by kat518 at 3:16 PM on November 8, 2015
I also really enjoy Allison Janney's character. My father always took me to see spy movies with him and there's a part of this one where Allison Janney, Miranda Hart and Melissa McCarthy are all in the scene and it warmed my heart. And Jason Statham was hilarious. Here's hoping for a sequel.
posted by kat518 at 3:16 PM on November 8, 2015
Very late to the party but this was just on tv tonight and reminded me that I'd never looked for a post on it. I think it's a delightful movie. I just love it and could watch it a million times. If I'm not mistaken there are no jokes at all about Melissa McCarthy's weight. The only stigma attached to it is the way the other characters stereotype her, which is really wonderful.
I have a mega crush on Jason Statham after seeing this. All of his bragging and grandstanding seemed like nothing more than trying to impress MM, so it was the best to see them end up together at the end. Hopefully not spoilery, since it's been out for over an year, but the after the credits scene is adorable. I have never seen Jason Statham's face look quite like that, when he laughs at her "don't do that thing with your thumb again" comment. He is so genuinely amused. You can tell they really like each other, which makes it all the more fun.
The part of the movie that is extremely problematic for me is the treatment of the character of Anton, one of Rayna's security team. He is on screen for less than five minutes and is just treated deplorably by MM's character the entire time. The first thing she does upon seeing him for the first time is violently throw her phone at his head, and then curse at him and call him bag of dicks several times (I think this is where the limp dicked unicorn comment come into play), yell at him some more, walk inside with him, demand his coat from him, curse at him some more, beat him up for his coat, steal his coat, walk outside, he follows, she curses at him some more, he dies. I find it really distasteful and there is not one funny thing about any of it...Anton is uncomfortable and in pain from the moment we meet him until his demise shortly after, and is verbally and physically abused by MM several times for laughs. Just....horrible.
Who was the woman in the green dress and how was she related to anyone else? No idea.
Trying to remember a woman in a green dress. it's coming on again in about 5 minutes and I may have to watch it again to see.
posted by the webmistress at 7:49 PM on September 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
I have a mega crush on Jason Statham after seeing this. All of his bragging and grandstanding seemed like nothing more than trying to impress MM, so it was the best to see them end up together at the end. Hopefully not spoilery, since it's been out for over an year, but the after the credits scene is adorable. I have never seen Jason Statham's face look quite like that, when he laughs at her "don't do that thing with your thumb again" comment. He is so genuinely amused. You can tell they really like each other, which makes it all the more fun.
The part of the movie that is extremely problematic for me is the treatment of the character of Anton, one of Rayna's security team. He is on screen for less than five minutes and is just treated deplorably by MM's character the entire time. The first thing she does upon seeing him for the first time is violently throw her phone at his head, and then curse at him and call him bag of dicks several times (I think this is where the limp dicked unicorn comment come into play), yell at him some more, walk inside with him, demand his coat from him, curse at him some more, beat him up for his coat, steal his coat, walk outside, he follows, she curses at him some more, he dies. I find it really distasteful and there is not one funny thing about any of it...Anton is uncomfortable and in pain from the moment we meet him until his demise shortly after, and is verbally and physically abused by MM several times for laughs. Just....horrible.
Who was the woman in the green dress and how was she related to anyone else? No idea.
Trying to remember a woman in a green dress. it's coming on again in about 5 minutes and I may have to watch it again to see.
posted by the webmistress at 7:49 PM on September 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
Oh if you mean the girl in the green jumpsuit who knife fights with MM, she's the one who "makes" Ford and switches his backpack during the festival.
posted by the webmistress at 8:06 PM on September 14, 2016
posted by the webmistress at 8:06 PM on September 14, 2016
I just saw this and was blown away by how feminist it was. Not only did it pass the Bechtel test, it didn't pass the reverse Bechtel test. It was all about women and their relationships which was delightful. I also thought the Statham character always telling her that she was incompetent, culminating in him almost pulling her off the helicopter as he yelled at her that she was going to mess things up, was the most real thing ever about men and women.
posted by latkes at 10:16 PM on October 21, 2018
posted by latkes at 10:16 PM on October 21, 2018
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posted by Ipsifendus at 8:51 AM on June 12, 2015 [10 favorites]