After the letdown of Bridesmaids last year, I thought that this "new dawn of female comedy" was just a tease. But after seeing Melissa McCarthy again in an even better role, I think she might be a new star in the Jim Carrey/Adam Sandler mold. That is, not bad when they ad lib, but even better when they play it a bit straight.
Melissa McCarthy and Jason Bateman both play Sandy Bigelow Patterson. He's the he in Denver, she's the she in Florida. When Mr. Sandy's credit card is declined, he decides to take matters into his own hands and go bring her from Florida to Colorado to face the music. After a meet-cute involving a car crash and a home invasion, they are forced into going on the run together. Turns out, Mr. Sandy is not the only one chasing Ms. Sandy. There's also drug dealers and bounty hunters.
This turns into a modern Midnight Run across the country. Something about the road trip just makes for ripe movie material. Interesting the run comes to a tipping point in St. Louis. You might recall the Griswolds had their own troubles in St. Louis on their road trip in National Lampoon's Vacation.
It's a new day dawning when a fat woman can be a star without that being the whole joke. Chris Farley would be proud.
* * * of 4
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