In 2011 the comedy Bridesmaids was a smash hit, both critically and commercially and it pretty much provided the breakout role for comedian Melissa McCarthy.
McCarthy stole every scene she was in as the loud and gregarious Megan, a role for which she was nominated for various awards, winning 2012 MTV Movie Award for Comedic Performance of the Year.
The actress has starred in many movies since then and, although for a while she was pigeonholed as a bit of a one-note, loud and crass character she broke away from the stereotype as a police detective in 2013’s The Heat.
She has now come fully into her own with her role as CIA analyst Susan Cooper in the hit comedy Spy, which is earning rave reviews and excellent box office.
What Bridesmaids, The Heat and Spy have in common – apart from McCarthy – is director Paul Feig, and it is clear the duo have a certain je ne sais quoi which certainly brings out the best in the actress as they embark on their third journey together.
In Spy, McCarthy stars as Susan Cooper, an unassuming, deskbound CIA analyst; an intelligence officer without whom the agency’s top spies couldn’t function. When her partner Agent Fine (Jude Law) disappears while out on a mission, Cooper goes deep undercover, and finds herself away from the safe confines of her desk embroiled in a deadly international illegal arms deal.
A fan of spy movies, Feig, who also wrote the script, says he always wanted to create a broad comedy in the genre, while wanting Spy to be a relatable story for the audience.
Despite being extraordinarily talented, she can still elicit a profound empathy
“If I was recruited as a spy and sent on a mission, how might I react?” he states in the film’s production notes, adding that “Melissa is perfect for the role because, despite being extraordinarily talented, she can still play the ‘every person’ and elicit a profound sense of empathy and support.”
McCarthy’s response to being chosen by Feig for the role is simple. “Paul is great, he makes great movies and I’ve latched onto him like a barnacle.”
A richly-drawn character, Cooper is someone who was raised to believe she wouldn’t get anywhere; and joining the CIA initially did nothing to improve her self-esteem or social life. For due to her extraordinary memory, she was plonked behind a desk serving as the eyes and ears for the charming but caddish agent Fine for whom she secretly pines. Even when she is sent out into the field, there is the feeling that she is somewhat a failure; “My spy cover is an unemployed phone marketer? I can’t even find a job in that field?” she complains.
It takes Susan a good long while to realise that she actually is very good at what she does. Says McCarthy: “Susan’s always had ability, and is great technically and tactically, but she lacked confidence. Now her field experiences and loyalty to Jude’s character, Bradley Fine, begin to bring out her full potential. She discovers talents she didn’t know she had.”
Adds Feig: “I read that women make better spies than men because they’re generally better at reading physical cues, gaining trust and using intuition. This is Susan Cooper. She doesn’t rely on brawn – she has to figure things out as she goes along.”
Susan’s adventures take her to a series of exciting places across Europe as she hunts down villains Rayna Boyanov (Rose Byrne, also a Bridesmaids alum) and Sergio De Luca (Bobby Cannavale); using her skills and a series of interesting disguises along the way. She is aided and abetted by her best friend and colleague Nancy (Miranda Hart), while supervised by her boss Elaine Crocker (Allison Janney). Putting spokes in her wheels is agent Rick Ford – played as an intrepid if somewhat bumbling character by action star Jason Statham.
In Susan Cooper, McCarthy and Feig have created a character that has certainly resonated with critics and audiences alike. The film currently enjoys a 95 per cent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while topping the US box office on its opening weekend.