Review: “The Heat”
Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy keep "The Heat" from being a total disaster. Photo courtesy 20th Century Fox.
James Clay / Intern
2.5 out of 5 Stars
Women rarely star at the center of the typical raunchy R-rated comedy, a dubious honor usually occupied by a stoner and his straight-man sidekick, but “The Heat” does a passable job of delivering gender-flipped laughs.
Sandra Bullock joins director Paul Feig and actress Melissa McCarthy fresh off their 2011 hit comedy “Bridesmaids.” Unfortunately, their sophomore effort fails to deliver the same magic that made their first film so special.
“The Heat” follows the unlikely partnership of uptight FBI agent Sarah Ashburn and abrasive Boston Police Detective Shannon Mullins, played by Bullock and McCarthy respectively, as they attempt to take down a drug lord.
The typical R-rated comedy features around two hours of raunchy, risque laughs, and for better or worse, “The Heat” certainly does not disappoint. McCarthy’s constant threats wear thin very quickly, and Bullock’s performance fails to balance out the duo. Neither star receives the material to do much more than flounder, especially when Bullock’s character is dismissed as incompetent through the entire feature.
“The Heat” is not without its redeeming qualities though– its cartoonish nature and clever use and abuse of gender conventions makes for adequate amusement for a summer comedy. If you find yourself searching aimlessly at a local Redbox in the coming months there are far worse choices than “The Heat”.
“The Heat” opens this Friday.
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