Review - The Heat

At the Theater - "The Heat" - Melissa McCarthy's (CBS's Mike & Molly) profane, rough-around-the-edges Detective steals the show outright while Sandra Bullock's (Speed) straight-laced, by-the-book FBI agent looks her best when she's a hot mess in this R-Rated Comedy/Buddy Cop film from Director Paul Feig (Bridesmaids).  The last act isn't nearly as strong (funny) as the first two and it could definitely use a small trim, but there's far more material here that works as opposed to that which doesn't (an impromptu tracheotomy should have been left on the cutting room floor) and the chemistry between the two leads is undeniable.  It's well worth a look for those inclined, but don't bring the kiddos- it's filled with foul language (there's a handful too many F words) and it's rather violent in short bursts. 

Although she's starred in several Rom-Com's, I had forgotten that Sandra Bullock is a capable comedic Actress- that just may be due to those films being decidedly forgettable, though.  Her FBI Special Agent Sarah Ashburn in The Heat isn't too far from the similar character she played in the Miss Congeniality films, though the role and the overall content of those two releases were were bound by a far more family friendly PG-13 rating.  She's allowed a little more room to roam here and it works wonders.  I had also somehow forgotten how, um, Hot she could be when she lets her hair down... so to speak.

Melissa McCarthy's Detective Shannon Mullins is a lovably crude force to behold- she's like a foul-mouthed reincarnation of the late John Candy (I cried the day he died).  Her character here is a hard-nosed, seasoned vet with a love of firearms and a hearty sense of justice.  The Actress has an admirable handle on self-deprecating humor which makes her damned near impossible to dislike.  Her real-life husband (Ben Falcone) makes an appearance in a Barroom sequence.  The couple were featured prominently together in Bridesmaids.

So the two contrasting personalities from different levels of The Law reluctantly join forces to bring down an unseen drug lord and, in this case, hilarity ensues.  Yes, opposites thrust together to achieve a common goal is often a tried-and-true formula when the Actors are game, the script is solid and the Direction is sure-handed- The Heat is fortunate enough to have all three of those particular ingredients of that recipe working for it.  Bullock and McCarthy appear more than willing to get down and dirty for several sequences of laugh-out-loud slapstick.

Demian Bichir (Savages) is Agent Ashburn's FBI superior- he's good in little more than a stock character role who only has a few brief scenes.

Thomas F. Wilson (Biff Tannen in the Back To The Future Trilogy) plays the beaten down Police Captain who often incurs the wrath of Detective Mullins, while Comedian Spoken Reasons is put through hell as a small-time drug dealer in his feature film debut. 

Marlon Wayans (Scary Movie) is somehow not annoying as an FBI Agent with a crush on Ashburn- he's actually quite likeable here.  Michael Rappaport (Cop Land) is serviceable as Mullins's troubled brother and Kaitlin Olson (FX's It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia) is featured in what amounts to a cameo as a Russian prostitute.

Michael McDonald (MADtv) makes a surprisingly good bad guy while Jane Curtain (SNL and 3rd Rock From The Sun) is pretty much wasted in a couple of brief scenes as Mullins's Mom. 

Many will remember an outspoken, albino DEA Agent played by Dan Bakkedahl (Observe and Report) - he's the butt of several good jokes, but gives as good as the gets. SNL'er Taran Killam portrays his partner.

NKOTB fans will probably get all giddy when they recognize Joey McIntyre as one of the Mullins clan.  Someone had to point it out to me, well after the fact, just who the hell he was...

As far as Buddy/Cop films are concerned, this clearly isn't intended to compete with the likes of Lethal Weapon or 48 Hours, but it's a helluva lot better than absolute garbage like Starsky & Hutch (2004), Hollywood Homicide, The Other Guys, Showtime, Tango & Cash, Loose Cannons or Cop Out.  Think 21 Jump Street (2012) mixed with Freebie and the Bean (1974) and The Hard Way (1991). I wouldn't call it an action film in that it's devoid of any elaborate car chases or larger-scaled shootouts, but, all things considered, this flick works rather well as a Cop/Crime Comedy and successfully establishes a charismatic, memorable duo.  There's plenty of legitimate laughs and the story never jumps off the rails- a sequel is already on the way.

Recommended.

8.0 out of 10