Reel Critics: ‘Spy’ brings on genuine laughs

Melissa McCarthy made her big comedy splash in the hilarious “Bridesmaids” directed by Paul Feig. Her subsequent films like “Tammy” often failed to meet the potential shown in that first hit. But now in “Spy” she is reunited with Feig, who wrote the R-rated screenplay with McCarthy’s best talents clearly in mind.

It’s hard to imagine anyone with her shape and size pulling off a role as a female James Bond. But McCarthy knocks it out of the park as one of the most unlikely action heroes you will ever see. She starts out working a desk job in the CIA basement. She uses high tech computers to assist a field operative played with dashing style by Jude Law. She never leaves the building but admires his exciting life as it plays out on her computer screen.

Circumstances propel McCarthy into the field when Law’s character is compromised. Like most Bond films, this spoof features supervillains, rogue agents and crazy stunts. A stolen nuclear bomb generates wild chase scenes in exotic locales. But alongside the snappy dialogue and slapstick, there are belly laughs galore and genuine satire in this surprise winner.

—John Depko

*

‘Entourage’ is reunited, and it feels so good

Fans of HBO’s long-running “Entourage” series will be happy to see all the show’s stars reunited for a big-screen party and how we have missed them.

Back for more craziness are four guys in Hollywood via Queens who love to party: pretty boy Vince (Adrien Grenier) is an A-lister who is never without manager Eric (Kevin Connolly), driver Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) and Johnny Drama (Kevin Dillon), Vince’s older but definitely not wiser brother.

Expect more good-natured insults, lots of bikini babes (this is Tinseltown, after all) and raunchy laughs. The awesome Jeremy Piven reprises his role as Ari Gold, Vince’s agent turned studio exec who tries to keep his temper, but never his ego, in check.

There are tons of star cameos including Billy Bob Thornton and UFC star Ronda Rousey. Not much plot, but lots of hedonistic fun.

*

‘Insidious: Chapter 3’ is dark suspense

Leigh Whannell, who co-created the hair-raising “Insidious” series, now directs this third installment, a prequel which gives a back story to its most essential character.

High school student Quinn (Stefanie Scott) seeks out psychic medium Elise (Lin Shaye) to make contact with her deceased mom. Elise is terrified of her gifts and we soon find out why.

If the girl had studied up on horror films she would have known better than to contact the “other side” on her own. But then, we wouldn’t be jumping out of our seats now, would we?

The film is bloodless with some dark humor and agonized, don’t-look-under-the-bed suspense. Quinn, now with two broken legs and dependent on a flustered dad (Dermot Mulroney), is an innocent in serious physical danger.

Enter Elise to the rescue. The petite Ms. Shaye gets a chance to really shine here as a woman who fights her own inner demons while battling the forces of evil. Good times.

—Susanne Perez

JOHN DEPKO is a retired senior investigator for the Orange County public defender’s office. He lives in Costa Mesa and works as a licensed private investigator. SUSANNE PEREZ lives in Costa Mesa and is an executive assistant for a company in Irvine.