Rude, crude, and socially unacceptable.
Directed by: Ben Falcone
Written by: Ben Falcone, Melissa McCarthy, Steve Mallory
Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Bell, Ella Anderson, Peter Dinklage
Swift shot: Look, I am not gonna lie. I have been excited about this film since I saw the Girl Scout rumble in the previews. That, alone, was worth the price of admission. Granted, I get to see it free, suckas! But, at first I was sitting there only slightly amused, not really laughing much . . . so I started challenging myself to try not to laugh. I failed! The film might not have a constant comedy pulse throughout, but when the funniest parts hit, they knocked me over. More like, they launched me face first into the seat in front of me!
McCarthy plays Michelle Darnell, a kind of rags to riches self-made millionaire mogul who takes her success to large arena filled stadiums of drone like followers who think that she’s got the secret formula for success. Essentially, it’s really simple, screw everyone else! If they get in your way, cut them out of your life. See, she learned that lesson growing up as an orphan, where several families (not just her own) gave up on her. I imagine rejection like that would do a number on anyone. But, that melodrama aside, Michelle’s got real problems now.
A man she jilted in the past, Renault (Dinklage) has found a way to bring her empire crashing down around her, and she loses everything after being sentenced for insider trading. Because she’s been a complete shit to everyone, she only has one person to turn to, her former assistant, Claire (Bell). Claire ain’t exactly thrilled about letting her crash at her small place, especially since she has a young daughter to bring up on her own. But her daughter, Rachel (Anderson) is a caring kid and wants to do the right thing, regardless of how crappy Michelle may have treated her mom in the past. Rachel is no dummy though, she has street smarts as a member of the Dandelions. (Basically the Girl Scouts, but, they aren’t the Girl Scouts, but, yea, it’s the GIRL SCOUTS – who cares?)
One day Michelle is forced to take Rachel to a Dandelion meeting, and everything changes. Some people are doers, some people are makers, some people are fakers. And Michelle Darnell is a doer, a user of people, and a ruthless businesswoman. As an opportunity literally gets shoved in her mouth, she’d be an idiot not to exploit this tender, moist morsel. If any of this review is getting a bit hot for you, you might want to avoid The Boss altogether. It was FILTHY – like 1980’s filthy sans the nudity, of course.
The language used by pretty much all the actors (including the children) really bothered some of the people at my screening. They forgot what fucking funny is, I guess. Sometimes a nice shocking “fuck” is necessary. They may have over employed it a bit in The Boss, but it never offended me. Granted, I am not easily offended, unless you start cracking on Eskimos. Not cool!
Tyler Labine, as love-interest Mike, delivered some of the funniest scenes of the film. And Annie Mumolo is a stand-out character actress as the bitchiest Scout Mother ever! She is pissed that an ex-con is anywhere near these girls. Really, in real life, I don’t blame her. But, this isn’t real life folks, so just laugh at the ridiculousness of it all.
With a glaringly predictable story line, McCarthy hubby Falcone did a decent job of keeping the laughs hearty. A few times I missed some of the punch-lines, because the audience was laughing too loud to hear. I call that a good sign. It might not be your holy-shit, must see film, but I have always enjoyed McCarthy in the past, and The Boss didn’t let me down. I’d call it, “over the bra” hilarious.
Rest in peace, Mr. Spaghetti.
