AUG2013_MOVIE REVIEW

“The Heat”

By Gemma Schuhmann

The Heat follows the unlikely pairing of an FBI Special Agent (Sandra Bullock) and a Boston cop (Melissa McCarthy).  The two must overcome their major differences to take the bad guy down with force.

Nothing can stop them from bringing the ‘heat’ to all criminals on their path to find the truth in every situation.

This is a typical cop comedy.  The leads don’t get along at the start and by the end they are best of friends despite their differences.  There are a few surprises along the way but overall it’s very predictable.  The only real difference between this film and other police films is that The Heat has two female leads.  However much the filmmakers say that this is revolutionising the police genre it still feels like it’s been done before.  It is a typical law enforcement comedy with female leads and it’s not too much more than that.

The director has done a brilliant job at making terrible situations seem funny.  Preferring the actors to improvise rather than to follow the script has lead to this enhanced, over the top comedy.  However it’s not all laughs there is a softer side to the story, which almost makes the film feel like it’s clashing within itself.  The drama seems to be forever run over by the comedy.

The partnership between Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy is genius.  If these two weren’t in it together this film would not be as enjoyable as it is.  All the laughs come from the reaction between them.  The drunk scene between these two will leave everyone with a tear in their eye from laughter.  The scenes where they aren’t together feel dull, still funny but not quite as good as it could be.  This film completely relies on these two actors for its success.

If you need a laugh, The Heat is the perfect film.  It is so predictable you won’t even have to think.     3/5