The Heat, directed by Paul Feig, stars Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy is this side-splitting buddy cop movie in which two unlikely partners are forced to work together in order to bring down Boston’s biggest drug lord. FBI agent Ashburn, played by Bullock, wants the promotion she has been waiting for her entire career, while Boston police officer Mullins, played by McCarthy, simply wants to protect the streets she grew up on. As result, their paths converge and comedy ensues.
Bullock and McCarthy make this film what it is. Their chemistry on screen is charming from beginning to end, and they both prove that they can be just as crude as any man and make it funny. Although the film's plot is a bit contrived, it doesn't matter. The film is supposed to make you laugh not win awards, and that's exactly what it does. It's precisely on par with what it should be, a fun experience at the movie theater.
Unlike a lot of comedies, The Heat does not try too hard to be funny. It knows what it’s doing and does it well, and allows its leading women to do what they do best. Bullock’s overly uptight Ashburn and McCarthy’s much disheveled Mullins complement each other well. Each role could have easily morphed into the generic clichés that countless movie characters fall prey to; however, these women don’t allow that to happen. Rather, they both create entertaining, genuine characters that deliver their lines effectively.
Not only were the stars of this film hilarious, but the supporting cast played their roles perfectly as well. Marlon Wayans, Michael Rapaport, Taran Killam, and Michael McDonald are just a few of the many recognizable faces scattered throughout The Heat, each of whom contribute their own comical nuggets. Such an attribute of the film should be credited to the movie’s director.
Feig, also the director of Bridesmaids, delivers a film only slightly less raunchy than his previous, but does not at all disappoint with the laughs. Once again, his comedy centers on exuberant female characters, which is quite a refreshing change from the normal archetype of such films. Overall, The Heat was extremely enjoyable. In recent years, McCarthy has become comedy gold, and Bullock has always been funny, which easily translate into a movie worth watching. These two were meant to make a film together.
