Tammy

So I went into this movie with super low expectations. All I knew about it was that is a Melissa McCarthy vehicle where she goes on some sort of road trip. So I was a little surprised that I didn't find it all that bad. That was then I realised that it was supposed to be a comedy, it was then that I was disappointed.

Tammy (Melissa McCarthy) is a woman who is at a crossroads in her life. She has just found out that her husband is cheating on her and has been fired from her job. Fed up with everything that is going on, she goes on a road trip with her grandmother Pearl (Susan Sarandon), who wants to visit Niagara Falls. Along the way, Tammy meets Bobby (Mark Duplass), who she falls for.

Tammy is a strange movie. It's not a full on laugh out loud comedy (although there are a few laughs), but it is neither a drama. It suffers from severe under-characterisation and you never get close to any of the characters. The story isn't too bad, I can see the concept actually happen, but the situations that Tammy finds herself in are just absurd (and not in the funny way).

This film has a crisis in casting. Whilst the part of Tammy was written for McCarthy (she did write the script after all), some of the main roles are extremely poorly cast. It's hard to believe that Susan Sarandon is McCarthy's grandmother, but even harder to grasp at the idea of Allison Janney being her mother (there is only a decade difference in their ages). Toni Collette and Nat Faxon appear in this movie, although they barely have any lines. The only good choices I could pick out were Kathy Bates and Sandra Oh as a lesbian couple. These two were the sweetest and most likeable characters in the film.

The comedy relies on McCarthy being a foul-mouthed woman, which is really old hat for her (she did it better in both Bridesmaids and The Heat). She has some skill doing slapstick work, but doesn't take advantage of the opportunities and instead attempts to swear her way into some laughs.

Verdict: An alright movie if you've got a lazy afternoon to spare (like I had), but I wouldn't recommend rushing out to see it.

The Way, Way Back

I'm just going to get straight to the point, this is one of the best films I've ever seen. I'm going to have to go back and amend my top ten list. Written and directed by Academy Award winners Jim Rash and Nat Faxon (Best Adapted Screenplay for The Descendants, 2011), it is probably the best comedy that I have ever seen.

14-year-old Duncan (Liam James) is on summer holiday to his mother's boyfriend's, Trent (Steve Carell), beach house in a sleepy East Coast town. His mother, Pam (Toni Collette), is hoping that the two bond over the summer. Duncan soon becomes frustrated with Trent's cold attitude towards him and adventures to the nearby water park. He is offered a job by the owner, Owen (Sam Rockwell), and soon becomes the hero of the staff.

Duncan has a budding relationship with his neighbour, Susanna (AnnaSophia Robb), whilst his mother's relationship is slowly fading.

This film is an excellent example of character driven comedy. All the characters are fully formed and lead the story in their own ways. Both Faxon (Freeloaders) and Rash (Community) are master writers and although I haven't seen The Descendants I can see that they are great writers, as well as directors. They also play two of the water park's employees and prove that they can achieve a high level of excellence in all fields.

The cast of this movie is amazing. Liam James is a newcomer to main roles in film, but carries the role amazingly. He plays his character so amazingly and the development that he goes through is out in front and fantastic. I expect that we'll be seeing a lot more of him.

Steve Carell (Anchorman) plays against type and goes for a serious role this time. He is entirely believable as the douchebag boyfriend and from the opening scene onward you will hate him. And that's the mark of a fantastic actor.

AnnaSophia Robb (Soul Surfer) is incredible as the girl next door and does play the character in the stereotypical way. Likewise, Sam Rockwell (Moon) is uplifting as Owen and you can really see the connection that he has with Duncan.

I laughed the hardest at Allison Janney (the mum from Juno), who plays Susanna's mother. She is perpetually drunk and is constantly saying inappropriate things to her friends and even her own children, but I can see her as a good mother.

Verdict: A perfect movie. I saw it with a large, varied group and everyone loved it. I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves movies and it has a great uplifting message.