Tammy

Directed by Ben Falcone
Written by Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone
Starring Melissa McCarthy, Susan Sarandon, Kathy Bates, Allison Janney, Dan Aykroyd, Mark Duplass, Toni Collette and Sandra Oh
In UK Cinemas July 4th, 2014

Husband and wife duo Ben Falcone and Melissa McCarthy have very good intentions with Tammy, but the film never quite hits the mark.  Not quite funny enough to be a comedy, not quite serious enough to be a drama, Tammy falls flatter than any of Melissa McCarthy’s physical comedy moves.

While the cast is comprised of an excellent ensemble, some of the roles are unbelievable.  How could Susan Sarandon be Melissa McCarthy’s grandmother and Allison Janney’s mother, and Allison Janney Melissa’s mother?  These women must’ve beared child young.  This miscasting is forgivable because it’s great to see all of these actresses on screen in the same film, however ham-fisted.  The true problem lies in the directing.  It is amateurish and stunted.  The trailer of Horrible Bosses 2 that screened before Tammy came across as slicker.

In spite of the failure in direction, Tammy does have fine moments of comedy and drama.  The performances triumph over a mediocre script and underdeveloped characters.  In the hands of a better director, perhaps this film could’ve been more than mediocre.

Better than McCarthy’s previous dud Identity Thief, Tammy is watchable, but not overly engaging.  Nice to see all of those famous faces on the big screen, but it is too lacklustre to leave an impression as good as Melissa McCarthy’s actual potential as a lead actress.