Melissa McCarthy

Film Review: Halle Bailey rules the uneven ocean of The Little Mermaid

Whilst, for the most part, there’s a certain unnecessary mentality that comes along with Disney and their incessant need to live-action-update their animated back catalogue, some of these efforts have given way to adaptations that are inherently interesting (Jon Favreau’s 2016 take on The Jungle Book), undeniably charming (Kenneth Branagh’s Cinderella from 2015) or have…

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The Starling squanders any of its emotional potential with lazy manipulation: TIFF 2021 Review

There’s a hopeful message about tackling grief in a healthy manner and how there’s the possibility of light at the end of darkness present in the core of The Starling.  With so many promising ingredients too, Theodore Melfi‘s feel-good dramedy is likely to lure audiences in with a false sense of security, promising potential but…

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First Impressions: Nine Perfect Strangers revels in the slow burn of threat

Though it boasts a lush Byron Bay setting, is filled to the brim with aesthetically pleasing cast members, and is based around the notion of healing one’s self, Nine Perfect Strangers is decidedly unnerving. Set in a secluded health and wellness resort named Tranquillum House, the nine perfect strangers of the title are the latest…

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Film Review: Can You Ever Forgive Me? (USA, 2018) is one of the year’s biggest surprise packages

They say truth is stranger than fiction, and that’s especially evident in Can You Ever Forgive Me?, the delightfully absurd and deliciously bizarre true story of a washed-up writer who discovers a knack for forgery and a strangely fulfilling career change she never saw coming. Mining the as-yet untapped but mightily impressive dramatic talents of comedic…

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Film Review: The Happytime Murders (USA, 2018) could spark your interest if vulgar and unkempt comedy is your thing

Before Melissa McCarthy’s involvement essentially fast-tracked The Happytime Murders into production, the dark comedy had languished in development limbo for the good part of decade with both Cameron Diaz and Katherine Heigl attached at various moments as potential headliners.  With the final product now upon us, McCarthy’s penchant for vanity-free comedy feels like the most…

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Five bosses who could Melissa McCarthy a run for her money

From the devil who wears designer labels to the literal incarnate of evil itself, cinema has long been a platform for employers to be presented as anything but reasonable.  On the eve of Melissa McCarthy doing her best bad boss impersonation in (the appropriately titled) The Boss, here’s a look at five other business heads you…

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Film Review: The Boss (MA15+) (USA, 2016)

After going out of her way to make herself seem as unappealing as possible in the misguided Tammy, Melissa McCarthy opts for the opposite effect in The Boss, prettying herself up considerably (at least physically) to play a power-hungry mogul who, against our better judgement, we can’t hate as much as we should due to…

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Melissa McCarthy reveals the origins of The Boss

Melissa McCarthy has revealed that the character Michelle Darnell from her upcoming film, The Boss, was originally created for a comedy sketch 15 years ago in a new video about the film. While The Boss‘s Darnell has more depth than the gender-bent Donald Trump of the original sketch, according to director Ben Falcone believes “she looks very much like she does in the movie”. The…

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Melissa McCarthy returning for Gilmore Girls revival

Despite early reports to the contrary, it looks like Melissa McCarthy will be reprising her role as Sookie in the upcoming Gilmore Girls reboot on Netflix. McCarthy broke the news during a recent appearance on Ellen, saying “I’m gonna go back and do it, and I am so excited”. Gilmore Girls creator Amy Sherman-Palladino is returning…

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Full trailer for Paul Feig’s Ghostbusters released

We got our first real taste of the Paul Feig-directed reboot of Ghostbusters, courtesy of the new trailer released this morning. The trailer wastes no time introducing and showing it’s four new leads – played by Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones – with the full film looking every bit as funny (and slime-filled) as…

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First teaser trailer for Paul Feig’s Ghostbusters released

The marketing for the female-led reboot is ramping up with a new teaser trailer for the film released this morning. Over thirty years since the original supernatural comedy film took its place in pop culture history, we’re finally getting a new Ghostbusters movie.  Check out the teaser trailer below: It’ll be fascinating to see what Paul…

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Film Review: Spy (USA, 2015)

Earlier this year Larry Heath checked out Paul Feig’s action-comedy film Spy that got a showing at the SXSW Film Festival in Texas. An unorthodox approach for a mainstream comedy however with the film set to release in Australian cinemas this week, we take a look back at Larry’s review from then. Spy reunites Feig…

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Exclusive SXSW Interview: Melissa McCarthy talks Spy and reveals she’s coming to Australia!

Earlier tonight, the upcoming Action-Comedy Spy, reuniting Melissa McCarthy and Australia’s Rose Byrne with Bridesmaids director Paul Feig, premiered at SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas. We were lucky enough to be on the red carpet at the screening, and briefly caught up with star Melissa McCarthy to talk about being an action star in…

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SXSW Q&A Highlights: Spy premieres at SXSW Film Festival with Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Jason Statham and more

Ahead of its US release on June 5th, the new action-comedy Spy had a special unofficial world premiere at SXSW tonight, with actors Melissa McCarthy, Jason Statham, Rose Byrne and Bobby Cannavale joining writer/director Paul Feig to show off the film to the Austin, Texas crowd. The room was filled with laughter from start to…

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All-female cast announced for Ghostbusters reboot

Last week, it was announced that the eagerly anticipated reboot of Ghostbusters by director Paul Feig would be happening – and it would be starring an all-female cast. Through a wordless tweet featuring only a photo of four women, Feig announced that those starring in the reboot would be none-other than Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy,…

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Film Review: Tammy (USA, 2014)

Melissa McCarthy is Tammy and she is having a bad day. On her way to work, she hits a deer and wrecks her car. Because she is late, her boss Keith (Falcone) fires her. She arrives home to find her husband Greg (Faxon) having a romantic meal with neighbour Missi (Collette). She leaves Greg to…

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First trailer for Tammy sees Melissa McCarthy rob a fast food restaurant.

The first official trailer for the 2014 USA Comedy Tammy starring Melissa McCarthy has been released and we have it for you on The Iris. The trailer is likely to be a clip they’ve made specifically for a sneak preview like this, and sees McCarthy’s character attempt to rob a fast food outlet with pretty…

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