The Boss

You’re judged by the company you keep. When the movie trailers include “Kindergarten Cop 2” (What? I know, right?) and “Honey 3” (There are two others?), you know you’re probably about to watch a self-indulgent gift from a superstar comic actress to her not-as-successful comic husband (Oops – did I say that out loud?). “The Boss” involves a rich lady who gets her comeuppance and learns something about herself while hijinks ensue. It stars a rich lady (Melissa McCarthy) working off a script by Mr. McCarthy (a.k.a., Ben Falcone). Falcone also directs (so his vision could reach full fruition, I’m sure).

 

The Back-Up Plan

It is appropriate that artificial insemination is a key plot point in “The Back-Up Plan” (2010). The entire film smacks of artificiality. Don’t get me wrong. Jennifer Lopez has many moments of adorability and watching her be cute for 108 minutes wouldn’t be the worst way to fill a Sunday afternoon. But this rom-com is just so TV movie-of-the-week. The romantic interest is a TV guy (Alex O’Loughlin) and most of the cast are TV people (Tom Bosley, Noureen DeWulf, Linda Lavin, Melissa McCarthy). The producer? You guessed it: CBS Films. It’s not a film, it’s a cross-platform marketing tool.

 

Spy

Sometimes Melissa McCarthy is too much of a good thing (get it?) but I was laughing out loud just about all the way through “Spy” (2015). I also sometimes become numb to movies that shower me with a 119-minute fusillade of F-bombs, but listening to McCarthy and Rose Byrne rip each other a new one was almost “Sopranos” worthy. It’s a comic retelling of a Bond-like story, with BMWs, helicopters, poisoned drinks and McCarthy’s schtick. The pacing is good and a strong commitment to both the action (arterial spray) and comic (stool softener) genres balance each other (and McCarthy) nicely.