THE BOSS — Review by Susan Granger
You can see Melissa McCarthy’s best bits from this wannabe comedy in the trailer. As brash Michelle Darnell, she’s a self-made financial guru – “the 47th wealthiest woman in America” – who gets arrested and convicted for insider trading. When she’s released from prison, she’s so broke that she’s forced to bunk in with her former assistant, Claire (Kristen Bell). Read on…
A hard-working single mom, Claire lives in a cramped, second-floor apartment with her tween daughter, Rachel (Ella Anderson).
“You’re dressed like someone who grocery shops at CVS,” Michelle tells Claire as she’s preparing for a date.
When Michelle takes Rachel to her Dandelion (think Girl Scout) troop meeting, she tangles with another mother and, subsequently, concocts a plan to have the girls sell Claire’s delicious “family recipe” brownies instead of cookies – and take home some real profit from their efforts.
Territorial integrity prompts a violent street brawl (shot in slow-motion) between the Dandelions and Michelle’s recruits, Darnell’s Darlings, along with a romantic subplot involving a rival entrepreneur, Ron/Renault (Peter Dinklage).
Raised in a Catholic orphanage after being rejected from series of foster homes, self-reliant Michelle firmly believes that human relationships – a.k.a. family – are an unwanted burden, along with feeling compassion.
Episodically scripted by Melissa McCarthy and her husband, director Ben Falcone (“Tammy”), along with Steve Mallory, it’s a vulgar, if zany riff on female empowerment – which is a good thing, as Martha Stewart would say.
Years ago, this creative trio worked together as part of Los Angeles’ improve theater troupe known as the Groundlings – and that’s where the arrogant, profanity-spewing Michelle Darnell character first surfaced.
Problem is: the vulgar, R-rated shenanigans aren’t appropriate for the young audience that would most appreciate the slapstick pratfalls.
FYI: Melissa McCarthy just became the first female recipient of MTV’s Comedic Genius Award and will return as Sookie St. James, the ditsy chef on Netflix’s “Gilmore Girls” four-part revival.
On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “The Boss” is a flimsy 4. Melissa McCarthy deserves better.
