Movie Review: Tammy
By B.C.
Melissa McCarthy is back playing Melissa McCarthy, this time her name is Tammy, and she has brought along Academy Award winner Susan Sarandon as her grandma. Tammy is directed and written by McCarthy’s husband Ben Falcone, and the movie follows the story of a down on her luck girl who is fired from her job and catches her husband cheating on her.
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She then embarks on a road trip along with her alcoholic grandmother, and while on the road high jinx ensue and fun happens, or a lack of fun.
I think it is safe to say that McCarthy has been type cast, and I don’t blame her for it. In the 90’s you saw Jim Carrey being Jim Carrey in film after film. Chris Farley played the same character again and again, and they were golden. Today Vince Vaughn plays himself over and over and over, as do Will Ferrell and John C Reilly. It’s a golden opportunity to find what you are good at in comedy and run with it, so seeing Melissa McCarthy play the same character is no surprise.
Especially as seeing as she is incredible at it, however maybe it is that I’m getting wise to the gag or over the character, but it did not work in Tammy. I hardly ever laughed at the film, other than the spots that happened to be in the trailer.
Speaking of the trailer, they did an excellent job at a classic bait and switch, giving you a clip and making you believe this was the film you were seeing, not a road trip “find yourself” kind of film. The sad part is that the scene from the trailer, is by far the best part of the film. More of that and maybe this wouldn’t of been such a train wreck and I say that because the plot was, well no where to be seen. I mean there is a general outline of what the movie is about, but no real plot. It’s not necessarily a road trip film, and its not a romantic comedy, even though there is a very low-level basic love interest thrust into the film that you won’t even realize is happening.
The shimmer of light in the film is the one and only Susan Sarandon. As well as Kathy Bates. The two, almost phoning it in, both still on top of the game. Bates plays Sarandon’s lesbian cousin, and the two make for some pretty okay comedy. Sarandon’s grandma Pearl is an alcoholic, who is very wild to say the least, and she is tired of sitting at home and see hers grand daughters trip as a way out. Bates’ makes for the voice of reason and sets up one of the best, and only heartfelt moments in the film. Sandra Oh shows up in the film as Bates’ girlfriend, and is a fun little part.
All in all the film is pretty forgettable. I gave Tammy a Jeebus score of 1.5, with a .2 bonus for a surprise cameo for Tammy’s father, that I won’t ruin in case you want to actually see the film, bringing the score to a whopping 1.7. You’ll see this a lot on FX, they have the movies……
The Jeebus System explained:
I base films on what I call the Jeebus System, which is a 6 point grade with a possible .5 bonus. With a full 1 point given for entertainment value, story, SFX or cinematography, acting, and casting each, then a half point for direction and dialog each. Titles are given to each score, with “death penalty to all involved” to anything <.9. “You’ll see this on FXx a lot” for <1.9. “Redbox or Netflix it” for <2.9. “Check out the Matinee” for <3.9. “A good time at the theater” for <4.9. “Multiple viewings required” for <5.9. And finally, Jeebus-tacular for 6 or above.