The Heat

Cast of Characters:
FBI Special Agent Sarah Ashburn - Sandra Bullock
Detective Shannon Mullins - Melissa McCarthy
Hale - Demian Bichir
Levy - Marlon Wayans
Jason Mullins - Michael Rapaport

Director - Paul Feig
Screenplay - Katie Dippold
Rated R for pervasive language, strong crude content and some violence

      Academy Award winner Sandra Bullock and Academy Award nominee Melissa McCarthy pair up with Bridesmaids director Paul Feig in the buddy cop comedy The Heat.

      Sarah Ashburn (Sandra Bullock) is an FBI Special Agent who, due to her rigid "by the books" adherence to the Bureau's policies and procedures, always seems to get on the nerves of every one of her colleagues. As for her personal life, as one fellow agent sarcastically states, "Hard to believe she's single." Hell, even the cat she has keep her company belongs to her neighbor. Her boss Hale (Demian Bichir) gives her a case on a Boston drug kingpin to work on. In return, he'll possibly consider her for a promotion position she's been eying.

      Once in Boston, she gets settled in with the help of fellow FBI agent Levy (Marlon Wayans). While interrogating a perpetrator, she is introduced to Detective Shannon Mullins (Melissa McCarthy), a foul mouthed cop who's not so keen on the FBI coming into her territory and taking matters into their own hands. Being as polar opposite from each other as they could possibly be, both Mullins and Ashburn are naturally turned off by each other. That obviously means they'll soon be partnered up to track down the kingpin they're after.

      Like Ashburn's by the books nature within the FBI, this film is a by the books buddy cop comedy. From 48 Hrs. to Lethal Weapon to Stakeout and Rush Hour, we know how the formula works. One cop is straitlaced and by the book and the other is a loose cannon. They partner up, initially annoy the hell out of each other, but then gradually come to rely on the other. They botch up the case, get removed from the case, but then by the end of the film, they solve everything. Been there, done that. All that being said, this is a laugh after laugh after laugh type of comedy bolstered by two great female leads. Melissa McCarthy is a true comical gem. After stealing the show in Bridesmaids, a film I found to be a terrific surprise, McCarthy delivers the goods once again. From the moment she pops up on screen, she has us laughing hysterically and refuses to take her foot off the gas. Now to be honest, the concern for me was Sandra Bullock. Bullock's certainly a fine actress, but she doesn't exactly have the best resume in terms of comedy (Forces of Nature, Miss Congeniality, All About Steve, The Proposal). The Heat proves that given the right script, Bullock can turn in a fine comedic performance. It's not a scene stealing performance, but knowing her character, it's not meant to be. Pair her up with McCarthy and you have some finely tuned comic chemistry.

      With perfect comic timing from the two leads, a solid supporting cast, and a sharp script from debut film screenwriter Katie Dippold (although, I have to believe at least some of the moments were still ad-libbed), The Heat is the type of film McCarthy's comedy earlier this year Identity Thief wishes it could be. Don't go in expecting fresh originality. You'll be disappointed if you do. However, go in knowing what to expect and watch two great comic performances play off each other and you'll have just as great a time as I did. I give The Heat an A- (★★★½).