Spy

**Spoiler Alert**

Director: Paul Feig/Starring: Melissa McCarthy, Jason Statham, Jude Law, Rose Byrne, Allison Janney and Bobby Cannavale

Paul Feig, director of Bridesmaids, adds to his comedy credentials with his new flick Spy, which stars Melissa McCarthy; his muse and leading lady. The film is Feig and McCarthy's third collaboration and it's safe to assume their working relationship will continue into the future.

Spy is a James Bond-spoof but rather than casting a glamorous 007, we have McCarthy, who exploits her unglamorousness for laughs. But Feig understands the value of ensemble comedy and he has recruited a supporting cast who are often funny on their own. Allison Janney, Jason Statham, British comedienne Miranda Hart, Jude Law and Bobby Cannavale lend their various talents to the movie and serve as effective comedic support.

Spy-spoofs always work best if the story or plot takes a back seat to the lampoonery. Feig's film mostly succeeds in that respect. The plot imperatives are fairly undemanding, which leaves more room for McCarthy and company to do their funny things.

McCarthy plays Susan Cooper, a desk-bound CIA agent who dreams of being assigned dangerous and glamorous fieldwork rather than providing intel for agency operatives. One such operative is the James Bondish Bradley Fine (Jude Law), whose exotic and dangerous missions leave the sedentary Susan feeling envious. After Susan guides the tux-clad Fine through an operation via her computer, he vanishes mysteriously. Her boss, the humorless and no-nonsense Elaine Crocker (amusingly played by the ever-welcome Allison Janney) receives a video transmission from a Rayna Boyanov (the always fun Rose Byrne); a criminal on the international scene. Boyanov informs Crocker, in her haughty manner, that the identities of several CIA agents have been compromised.
We also learn Boyanov is also involved in the sale of nuclear weapons to terrorists.

As Crocker devises a plan to surveil Boyanov, she meets with one of the CIA's top agents; Rick Ford (a very funny Jason Statham). Though Ford is eager to go after Boyanov, he is reminded that his identity is no longer secret. When Crocker suggests they send an agent unknown to the international criminal community, Susan offers her services as a field-ready operative. Her suggestion draws mocking scorn from Ford, who refers to her as a "lunch lady." Though Crocker expresses her own reservations, she decides to give Susan a try. She makes it clear to Susan that she is only to observe and report and not engage the target.

It's a pity Jason Statham isn't offered more comedic roles because he is often very funny in his scenes. He is especially amusing when Ford details to Susan the injuries he's sustained while performing dangerous spy-work. Among the many physical traumas he mentions is an arm torn from its socket, which he claims to have reattached himself.

As Ford defies Crocker's orders not to pursue Boyanov, Susan dons her disguises for her surveillance. Hoping for glamor, she is disappointed to find her disguise is that of a dowdy middle-age woman who is humorously asexual.

Showing initiative and her willingness to also defy orders, Susan comes into contact with Boyanov at a formal gathering. Seeing her drink has been lethally-spiked, she stops her from ingesting it. Her cover almost blown, Susan explains to the prickly Boyanov that she has been hired to be her bodyguard by the she-criminal's father. Because of quick-thinking, Susan is able to stay close to Boyanov and report on her activities. In the meantime, Susan and Boyanov exchange some amusing insults and before long, a bond begins to form between the two.

As Susan's undercover spy-work begins to empower and embolden her, she also begins to earn Ford's respect. She also begins to shed her timid, mild-mannered personality for a more assertive, confidant one.

Susan realizes in time that Boyanov is merely a pawn in a larger plan to acquire weapons of mass destruction, which involves another criminal named Sergio De Luca (an under-utilized Bobby Cannavale). A kind of showdown makes up the last half-hour of the film, which is really the obligatory plot wrap-up we see in every action comedy.

Having worked with McCarthy on several films, Feig understands her comic appeal and wrings every laugh and giggle he can from it. McCarthy manages to be funny in spite of the fact that her character settles into what is fast becoming her trademark: the foul-mouthed tough with a hostile streak. I'm not really complaining, mind you; she does it well but she may want to be careful the character doesn't become shopworn. Nevertheless, she is a fun and funny heroine and can play off her co-stars without overpowering them with her presence. Rose Byrne has already proven to be a gifted, comedic actress and she is no less here. The real surprise is Jason Statham, who almost steals the show with his macho action character send-up. The film's energy always bumps up a notch whenever Statham shows up.

Is Spy worth the time? I think so but only if your expectations are modest. It is entertaining and good for some chuckles. You'd be crazy to expect more.

Furious 7

**Spoiler Alert**

Director: James Wan/Starring: Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Kurt Russell, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Ludaris, Lucas Black, Tyrese Gibson, Paul Walker, Nathalie Emmanuel, and Elsa Pataky

So comes the end to another Hollywood franchise...at least I think it's the end but unlike many gaudily budgeted series that lose their gas somewhere in the middle of second installment, The Fast and Furious series never lost its preposterous but intoxicating edge. An though I'm usually more than glad to see most franchises expire, I am actually sorry to see this series say goodbye. I'm also actually surprised the Furious saga is being retired. The last few movies gained some steam--and some fun cast members--without diminished inspiration. But good things stay good by leaving before their welcome is well-worn and the series does just that.

While it is sad to see Dominic Toretto and his crew retire, the loss of Paul Walker is sadder still. His presence in the film casts a bit of melancholy on the story. So as we say goodbye to the franchise, we also bid farewell to someone who was a mainstay in the series. It is fortunate for fans and the filmmakers that Walker was around long enough to complete the film.

Furious 7 takes us out with a bang and some new faces. The last film introduced Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham), brother to Owen Shaw (Luke Evans); the latter didn't fare too well when he provoked Dominic and his crew. Deckard is one of those action movie villains who is obscenely trained as a special forces this and that and is as wily as they come. Deckard was a lethal agent in Han's (Sung Kang) death, as we saw in the last film. Deckard wastes little time plotting the deaths of the rest of Dominic's crew as revenge for his brother. Before the Furious crew can fully mourn their murdered friend, Deckard blows up Dominic's home, which almost claims the life of the crew leader and Mia (Jordana Brewster) in the process.

Deckard had scuffled earlier with Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) in the FBI agent's office after accessing a computer file to locate Dominic's address. Deckard manages to escape, leaving Hobbs hospitalized and out of action.

Angry about being Deckard's prey and hungry for retaliation, Dominic gathers his crew but before they can take action, the group is visited by a government agency operative who calls himself Mr. Nobody (Kurt Russell, who has a lot fun with his role). Mr. Nobody is willing to turn a blind eye to Dominic and his crew's hunt in exchange for a mission in the Caucasus mountains. An African terrorist named Jakande (Djimon Honsou; yes, EVERYONE makes an appearance in this flick), has kidnapped a computer whiz named Ramsey who has created a program that would allow the user access to any cellphone or computer in the world. Mr. Nobody wants the target captured before he or she can be tortured for the device containing the coveted information. With few alternatives, Dominic and crew accept the mission and the challenge.

The hitch in the plan is Brian O'Connor (the late Paul Walker) and Mia's new life as parents. Caught between fatherhood (family is everything to Dominic and the crew) and his craving for danger, Mia allows Paul to join the mission.

And of course the unfinished business between Letty (Michelle Rodgriguez) and Dominic is an issue in need of address in the film. Rejoining the crew while trying to restore her memory of her time with Dominic is another sub-story in the narrative.

It goes without saying that the Caucasus mission is over-the-top and deliriously entertaining; two attributes by which we identify the series. Why a para-military operation would involve souped-up hot-rods is a conundrum for the ages but this is Furious 7; the fans knows not to spoil the fun with logic. Director James Wan, known for his work in the horror genre offerings The Conjuring and the Saw and Insidious films, shows a deft, instinctive touch with action scenes as well.

The mission becomes more interesting when Deckard shows up to foil and spoil and the computer geek's identity adds a little twist to the proceedings. But Dominic and gang learn the device Mr. Nobody is after is hidden in (what else?) a beautiful, sleek Maserati (I think I got the make right) inside an Arab billionaire's suite in a luxury high-rise in Dubai. The sequence calls for more spectacular, impossible goings on, including an electrifying building to building car flight.

Everything leads to a showdown in the L.A. streets; Dominic and crew's hometurf, with Deckard and Jakande visiting all manner of Biblical destruction on city blocks and buildings.

The series goes out the way it came in; with fast, cool cars, beautiful women, exotic locales, and always a hyper-kinetic, breakneck pace.

Jason Statham takes a break from his usual hero status to play the bad guy and does it well. With Diesel, Johnson and Statham, there is more than enough testosterone to challenge a first-world army.

Everyone gets his or her share of screentime and of course all the franchise loose-ends are neatly tied up.

In spite of its now iconic cast, The Fast and Furious series owes much to Diesel's Herculean charisma. What will he do with it now?

A premise I didn't think would survive past a sequel became a seven-movie phenomenon. That doesn't happen often and if one should come along again, it won't be anything like Fast and Furious. Let that statement serve as a lofty compliment. Somehow the thought of there being no more Furious movies to look forward to makes me feel quite sad.