'Spy' Review: Possibly the best English film in 2015!

Film: Spy

Director: Paul Feig

Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Jude Law, Jason Statham, Rose Bryne, Miranda Hart

Rating: ****

What's it about:

Susan Cooper works behind-the-scenes at the CIA. The Woman Friday to the field agents kinda job. This one, in particular, is called Bradley Fine, and by the looks of it, is among the best in the business. Susan develops a not-too-hidden crush on him. And it's sort of a one-way street that has a cul-de-sac once Fine is killed in action. His killer Rayna Boyanav issues an open challenge to the Agency, saying she knows all their secret agents on the field and they're free to come at her with whatever they've got. The Agency's Director decides, after a little persuasion, to send in Susan to solely observe Rayna and send back intel. Will she do as she's told or get involved in the name of revenge?

What's hot:

Melissa McCarthy is absolutely something else. She is a textbook on how to own scenes with both physical as well as verbal humour. It's really hard to see anyone else playing this role. Her back-and-forths with best friend Nancy (Hart), crush Bradley (Law), annoying twerp Rick (Statham) and nemesis Rayna (Bryne) are in a class of its own, but it is when she bites off the head of a security guy solely with her words, that's she's at her crackling best. And that fight with Nargis Fakhri's character Lia is to be seen to believed. It's barely there, but you gotta see it. And there's Jason Statham like you've never seen him before. Miranda Hart's plain Jane (though rather high-strung) character Nancy has her charms as does Peter Serafinowcz's Aldo. Feig has introduced several characters and infused several cameos for good measure and there will, most likely, be a sequel. How he takes it from here on, is up to him. 

What's not:

Considering Feig has kept the pace quite fluid and fast-moving, there really was no reason to limit either Morena Baccarin's character or Nargis's, considering there is so little we know about what drives them, who they are and why they are the way they are. 

What to do:

It's the best English film release this week and possibly this year. It's entertaining, has a woman in the lead role, and while being severely beeped, is still a treat to watch. More than once. Or twice!