The Heat

 

The Heat 2013

• Director: Paul Feig
• Seen by this director: Last Christmas
• Based on the novel: no
• Cast: Sandra Bullock, Melissa McCarthy, Michael McDonald, Jane Curtain, Marlon Wayans, Michael Rapaport
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Sandra Bullock – Gravity, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, The Lake House, Miss Congeniality 1&2, Crash, The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, 28 Days, Practical Magic, While You Were Sleeping, Speed
• Melissa McCarthy – The Life of David Gale
• Jane Curtain – Third Rock from the Sun
• Marlon Wayans – Requiem for a Dream
• Michael Rapaport – Sully, Beautiful Girls, True Romance
• Why? Sandra Bullock
• Seen: 17 January 2023      

       Ashburn (Bullock) is a Special Agent for the FBI and she’s much, much smarter than her male colleagues. They don’t like that. She lives alone, borrowing the neighbour’s cat to cuddle and watch TV with. She’s sent to Boston where Officer Mullins (McCarthy) takes no shit from married men hustling prostitutes, or mouthy drug pushers or anyone else. She dishes it out. Including to Special Agent Ashburn with whom she inevitably and predictably clashes.

       Films about buddy cops who hate each other but end up best buds are usually boring at best, irritating too. So much depends on the characters and the actors.

       Bullock can do this kind of thing with her eyes closed and be good, as she is here. McCarthy, well, she’s irritating. I know she’s supposed to be funny but mostly she’s just mean.

       Some of it is good, though, and it makes some good points and I like both Bullock and her character so for a buddy cop flick it’s quite good.

      

3 ½ * of 5