TAMMY – The Review

For those of you thinking, “Oh no, another reboot!”, just hold your horses. This new film is not a “re-imagining” of that story of the sweet, naive, fresh-faced young backwoods beauty introduced in the 1957 late show staple TAMMY AND THE BACHELOR which spawned a film and TV series and boasted an Oscar nominated top 40 title tune. We don’t hear a note of that pop standard, although that first film’s star, Debbie Reynolds, was almost in this new flick. Nope, 2014’s TAMMY is this Summer’s starring vehicle for Melissa McCarthy, almost three years to the day of her star-making supporting (and Oscar-nominated) turn in the surprise smash hit BRIDESMAIDS, Between her weekly job as half of TV’s “Mike & Molly”, she followed her 2011 film hit last year with IDENTITY THIEF and THE HEAT. But this new film is a big step forward in her movie career, as she’s more involved behind the camera in a kind of family affair. McCarthy co-write this film with her actor hubby Ben Falcone (he directed, too!), who, as in her previous films, has a small supporting role here. Oh, and this also pairs them with Will Ferrell and Adam McKay’s Gary Sanchez Productions, a pretty good comic pedigree. And just to be safe she’s paired onscreen with another Best Actrss Oscar winner (teaming with Sandra Bullock in THE HEAT was inspired) So will TAMMY help McCarthy retain the crown of movie-dom’s reigning box office comedy queen?

As the film opens, Tammy (McCarthy) is knee-deep in her worst day ever. Her battered junkbox of a car gains more damage as she plows into a deer somewhere in the midwestern US. This accident makes her late for the lunch shift at the local fast food joint, Topper Jack’s. Her unsympathetic, weasel-ly boss Keith (Falcone) promptly fires her. After her car sputters its last gasps, Tammy trudges home to find her hubby Greg (Nat Faxon) enjoying a cozy, home-cooked meal with neighbor Missi (Toni Collette). Grabbing her belongings, Tammy scurries over to her parents’ house and tells her mother Deb (Allison Janney) that she’s taking Grandma’s car and leaving town. But there’s a big catch. Unwillingly to be sent off to a retirement center, Grandma’ Pearl (Susan Sarandon), insists on “riding shotgun”. Niagara Falls will be the final destination, and along the way they’ll tangle with the law, hook up with a father/son duo (Gary Cole and Mark Duplass) for a bit of romance, and visit with their successful cousin Lenore (Kathy Bates). Just how much damage can this mis-matched pair do to small-town America on the road to that fabled newlywed destination.

McCarthy attacks the lead role with her usual fearlessness. She’s still a comedy pitbull, totally committed to every pratfall and foul-mouthed insult. Several film fans have criticized her for playing the same character in every film, which seems a bit unfair looking back back at the history of movie comedy. Bob Hope was basically the same guy in every flick for the first couple of decades in film (and, as he will admit, Woody Allen riffed on that persona in her first few flicks), until he branched out into a few dramatic efforts. McCarthy’s only three roles into above-the-title stardom, so she will eventually have a chance at more varied parts. But there are small, subtle differences in her work in THIEF, HEAT, and this film. The one consistent is her effort and energy that is often rewarded with big laughs. Unfortunately the character is toned down by the story’s end to inject some clumsy bits of pathos and romance, and she’s not quite as much fun to watch at that point.

Luckily she’s got a superb comic team-mate in the sublime Sarandon. whether she’s chastising her granddaughter or flirting with a stranger across the dance floor, she a delight who returns McCarthy’s comic barbs with ease. Bates also has some great moments with McCarthy as she imparts some much-needed advice while remaining a bouncy goddess of good times ably assisted by her life-partner played expertly by Sandra Oh (now that you’ve hung up the scrubs, we hope to see you in more movies). DuPlass isn’t given a lot to do as the required love interest, considering his great work in SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED and YOUR SISTER’S SISTER, it’s a shame he’s given little to do besides exchanging banal small-talk with Tammy. Cole seems to be having a much better time as his swingin’ farmer father, and Pearl’s bedtime buddy. Also under-utilized are Janney, Faxon, and Collette who are regulated to being spectators to McCarthy’s comic riffs. Falcone does make for a worthy adversary, but disappears after the film’s first minutes. Also great in a small but memorable role is Sarah Baker as a hapless cashier dealing with a desperate Tammy. After her remarkable work in a recent episode of TV’s “Louie”, she’s another comedienne that’s ready for more movie roles (maybe a buddy flick with Ms. McCarthy?). Hopefully there will be a place in that flick for another appearance by Dan Aykroyd who almost steals a scene very late in the film.

Falcone in his feature film directing debut keeps the film rolling at a good clip and keeps the movie’s running time from heading to indulgent Judd Apatow extremes (a good ten minute trim would still be welcome). He elicits great work from many in his cast, especially his missus, although the rap music-strut outside an eatery cried out to be shortened. The movie’s main problems might have been headed off in the script stage. The opening seconds establish Tammy as a mess, so the sight of her immaculate home and hubby seems off kilter. And no offence to Janney, but why does Sarandon need to be Tammy’s grandma’ instead of her mother? Despite the salt-and-pepper wig, she seems too youthful for the role (and then, there’s that earthy, sexy quality she brings to her every film). And despite the aerial highway shots, it doesn’t seem they’ve traveled that far (it’s no shock that the film makers stayed mostly in North Carolina). But the film does deliver lots of laughs despite its lapse into family medical melodrama in the last act (remember Hanks and Gleason in NOTHING IN COMMON?). So if you’re needing to beat the heat with a few giggles, you can do a whole lot worse (are A MILLION WAYS TO DIE IN THE WEST or BLENDED still playing first run houses?) than hopping in the backseat to observe the comedy fireworks between Melissa and Susan this July Fourth weekend. Just watch out for Pear’s beer cans and Tammy’s Topper Jack wrappers.

3.5 Out of 5