The Boss was a vulgar disgusting movie. It epitomizes the 'dumbing of America'. I used to like Melissa McCarthy but I will never see another of her movies. Really.?? Teaching a group of young impressionable girls to street fight??!! And I am bored with the vulgar language. Why does everyone seem to think that gets more attention. The movie would still have been second rate but perhaps at least cute without all the vulgarity. I would think she should be ashamed to be a role model to her daughters!!
What about St Vincent? Here she plays alongside Bill Murray in a different role. Single mother. As I recall no cursing no slapstick comedy.
McCarthy can be hilarious, but when historians in the future want to understand why Trump was so high in the polls this year, they'll point to the horrible trailer for The Boss and say, "Well, back then they thought this was funny."
Melissa McCarthy is so funny in The Boss. Liked her The Bridesmaids, Heat and Spy too. I'm not sure why there are so many negative comments about her. Sure, her brand of humor can be crude and vulgar depending on the movie, but what's the big deal, as long as she's funny? Most importantly, I agree with Manohla Dargis, she's an amazing comedian and she's proving at the box office that women can sell movie tickets, and better yet, charge ahead of Batman v Superman to #1, in a movie about women achieving success selling brownies!
I adore Melissa McCarthy. She is hilarious, her comedic timing is wonderful. I think she will mature to get more funny over time because she is perceptive and smart. And sure sometimes she can be overly crude etc, but reading some of the comments in this section about her weight is so ridiculous and tiring, and shows those folks to be shallow judgmental asses. Evolve people and take your looks criticism to some internet troll area where it belongs. Thanks Melissa for being bold and funny!!
7
Melissa could do a hilarious film playing Oprah.
"The Boss" is hilarious. It's not an existential meta comedy but it's freakin hilarious, much like "the Heat." I thoroughly enjoyed watching it with my sister, so few comedies are made for women. We like comedies too!
No interest in seeing movies starring McCarthy as they're always vulgar and crude. Too coarse and I'm tired of the F-word.
4
Yeah, Melissa McCarthy is the only person out there who uses the F-word in movies, so we should boycott everything she does. Makes perfect sense.
The constant stream of vulgarities is a genuine turn-off.
I haven't seen the movie and don't plan to. Many of the comments here, however, gave me hope that perhaps I'm not alone in the weariness I feel from the barrage of vulgarity and crudeness masquerading as humor. Amy Schumer and Melissa McCarthy aren't repugnant to me because they are overweight, it's because they're coarse and crude. They contribute to the growing general incivility of our culture and society. Why do so man comedians think that a copious sprinkling of the F-word in the routines somehow increases the humor? Why does the popular blog (or whatever it is), "I F-ing Love Science" think that by adding the F-word to its title it makes it hipper and more accessible? I hear people publicly use the F-word and other obscenities almost on a daily basis...they don't seem aware or to care that it makes them seem incredibly ignorant. When did courtesy and civility and truly witty humor fall so far from popular favor?
4
Alfred Hitchcock once said: Actors are cattle. And was excoriated for 30 years.
Thank goodness Ms. McCarthy has come along to unequivocally exonerate him.
Thank goodness Ms. McCarthy has come along to unequivocally exonerate him.
2
Melissa's comedy is like sushi, some have a pleasurable taste for it, others after a bite want to spit it out. I'm in the second group with Ms McCarthy. For me she's about as funny as an ostrich with a broken leg. Like so many other Manohla reviews, you wonder if she watched it with the aid of half a bottle of schnapps.
5
If "what funny means" is now being defined by the scripts of the past few movies of this actress, we should all take a pilgrimage to the Jonestown site and end it all in unison.
Funny is clever. "Disposable nonsense" is the type of pap that has been force-fed down the throats of movie goers by vehicles like "The Boss." That is not a welcome development.
Funny, powerful women in comedy should not make bad movies. There is no upside to that. It is disgraceful, as is the script of this movie. 90% of the critics recognize this. Ms. Dargis seems to hold out some sort of feminist victory for mediocrity. That is like saying that women should be graded on a curve.
Funny is clever. "Disposable nonsense" is the type of pap that has been force-fed down the throats of movie goers by vehicles like "The Boss." That is not a welcome development.
Funny, powerful women in comedy should not make bad movies. There is no upside to that. It is disgraceful, as is the script of this movie. 90% of the critics recognize this. Ms. Dargis seems to hold out some sort of feminist victory for mediocrity. That is like saying that women should be graded on a curve.
10
The woman may be funny, though when I see her do anything physical I do not believe that given her size it can be real or sustained. In a time when the USA is having an Obesity epidemic and when diabetes is becoming a great problem, an obese movie star so fat that she makes Jackie Gleason look thin is not good for our nation.
3
McCarthy essentially plays the same character in every movie -- a mouthy, lying, crude, self-involved ignoramus.
To mention her in the same sentence with Carol Burnett is outrageous. Carol exhibited more comedic range in a single episode of her TV show than McCarthy has managed in her entire career.
To mention her in the same sentence with Carol Burnett is outrageous. Carol exhibited more comedic range in a single episode of her TV show than McCarthy has managed in her entire career.
8
Not funny at all. Very disappointed.
4
You lost me at 'Melissa McCarthy'.
5
The movie is funny without being much good; mostly, it’s another rung on Ms. McCarthy’s big ladder up
Make sure it's reinforced as well as the Brooklyn Bridge.
Make sure it's reinforced as well as the Brooklyn Bridge.
3
We saw it last night and it was terrible. There was a huge crowd waiting to get in and obviously she's got a draw. Quite a few big names in it too but what a disappointment. I expected better because she's done better. We're not prudes by any stretch of the imagination but considering the whole premise with pre-teens, the language was horrible.
5
Melissa McCarthy's entire shtick boils down to fat, crude, and angry. I do not find her funny and I will not see this movie. That the reviewer seems to find these traits humorous and endearing is a mystery to me. That anybody find Ms. McCarthy's "entertainments" such mystifies me.
I agree with another commenter, who said that the comparison isn't between McCarthy and Bill Murray, but rather with Adam Sandler. McCarthy has demonstrated as much range and talent as Adam Sandler. But, at least he tried to do worthwhile things ("Punch Drunk Love," among others), aside from his "Adam's best friend club" movies. They may not have been good, but at least he tried.
Melissa McCarthy doesn't even try. She is and continues to be wildly overrated. Why is that, exactly?
I agree with another commenter, who said that the comparison isn't between McCarthy and Bill Murray, but rather with Adam Sandler. McCarthy has demonstrated as much range and talent as Adam Sandler. But, at least he tried to do worthwhile things ("Punch Drunk Love," among others), aside from his "Adam's best friend club" movies. They may not have been good, but at least he tried.
Melissa McCarthy doesn't even try. She is and continues to be wildly overrated. Why is that, exactly?
5
Adam Sandler started this descent into awful, self-love, unfunny "cutesdies". As many have noted, just looking at his narrow gaze kills hundreds of brain cells. If Adam Sandler is the standard that you crave, you'd find more solace in watching cartoons.
1
Hey! What a minute! Cartoons, unlike Adam Sandler, can be clever, witty and satirical.
1
I saw the preview yesterday, when I went to see My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (very cute, by the way -- Ignore the reviews; if you liked the first one, you'll like this one!). The Boss looked an awful lot like a louder, angrier version of Troop Beverly Hills with more dirty jokes. Is that supposed to be appealing?
Melissa McCarthy is a talented actress, I guess. But, she has yet to choose a vehicle that's outside her vulgar comedy wheelhouse. Once she does that, as Bill Murray did in Lost in Translation and many other movies, she'll just be the female Adam Sandler: Wasted talent, but keeping her friends employed!
Melissa McCarthy is a talented actress, I guess. But, she has yet to choose a vehicle that's outside her vulgar comedy wheelhouse. Once she does that, as Bill Murray did in Lost in Translation and many other movies, she'll just be the female Adam Sandler: Wasted talent, but keeping her friends employed!
3
There seem to be new rules for movie critics when reviewing comedies:
If a comedy isn't funny, its bad.
If a comedy IS funny, it's good -- unless it stars Melissa McCarthy, in which case it's okay to throw every kind of rotten tomato at it if it doesn't happen to be a supreme masterpiece of comedic art.
If a comedy isn't funny, its bad.
If a comedy IS funny, it's good -- unless it stars Melissa McCarthy, in which case it's okay to throw every kind of rotten tomato at it if it doesn't happen to be a supreme masterpiece of comedic art.
1
I am just so tired of vulgarity. After all isn't DJT the original "short-fingered vulgarian?"
I tried watching "The Heat" and quit after 10 minutes. "Trainwreck" with Amy Schumer got 85% on Rottentomatoes (RT) and within 10 minutes I thought-NO more! Same with "Inside Amy Schumer."
RT gave THIS movie a 20% rating. Then as a woman I never "got" The Three Stooges" either.
Maybe I'm just old and tired. Then I took my autistic neighbor to the movie of his choice "Ted 2." Really?? I love humor; I laugh out loud at Jon Stewart, and usually at Gail Collins but...
To each his own I guess.
I tried watching "The Heat" and quit after 10 minutes. "Trainwreck" with Amy Schumer got 85% on Rottentomatoes (RT) and within 10 minutes I thought-NO more! Same with "Inside Amy Schumer."
RT gave THIS movie a 20% rating. Then as a woman I never "got" The Three Stooges" either.
Maybe I'm just old and tired. Then I took my autistic neighbor to the movie of his choice "Ted 2." Really?? I love humor; I laugh out loud at Jon Stewart, and usually at Gail Collins but...
To each his own I guess.
7
I have always believed I like Melissa McCarthy and yet keep waiting for someone to provide her with the right project that can bring out everything I think I see in her. She keeps coming out with, as Jake Cunnane put it so well, "classic (terrible) Sandler" stuff. The trailer for this one makes me cringe, not the least for how the movie appears to be about inciting violence in little girls. Really? We need MORE violence? And what's up with the slapping her on the boobs? Ugh, I'll pass. But it's still true that when I first see that she's made a movie, and when I first see her face I feel hopeful! "Ooh, Melissa McCarthy!" One day, I hope she'll fulfill her own promise.
1
Some friends went to see this movie and they reported what it appeared: all the funny parts are in the trailer and even those weren't that great.
7
I'm disappointed that the humor stems from women putting down women. The character seems hilarious, but if the plot had her clawing her way back, taking down each type of stuffed shirt male 1%er it would be both funny and socially relevant. Missed opportunity.
1
Why is McCarthy wearing those strange, up to the ears turtleneck sweaters throughout the whole movie. Do they never show her neck? Who cares if she has a bit of a double chin remaining, or some loose middle aged skin. It's distracting.
2
Are you kidding? Why the turtlenecks? Because Ms. McCarthy is a cross between a cow and a pig and needs to hide all the blubber that is her body. Give me a break: she's popular because all the fat trolls have a savior. She is gross to the point of utter disgust. I bet she stinks to high heavens.
4
I am tired of seeing physical violence involving women. The trailer where two women slap each other in the face is unacceptable. I will not go to see this movie and will discourage others from doing so.
5
I'm curious to know what it is about Melissa McCarthy that caused Ms. Dargis to label her "an unlikely" comedy star. What is the basis for predicting comedic success?
14
She's female. Many, many still find a funny women to be odd
2
Is the better comparison Bill Murray, or Adam Sandler? I like Melissa McCarthy, but this looks like a classic (terrible) Sandler vehicle.
13
Yes..the appropriate comparison is Sandler.
From the trailer I get crude, vulgar, low brow. What a waste of talent. I'll pass.
21
This is the epitome of a chauvinistic movie review.
11
How do?
"Chauvinist" is an adjective and a noun, so it doesn't need the 'ic' at the end. I mean, you can spell it that way, but it just sounds so much better without the 'ic'.
Anyway, I too am curious to hear details about how the article epitomizes chauvinism.
Anyway, I too am curious to hear details about how the article epitomizes chauvinism.
If you understand the meaning of "chauvinism" it is obvious. If you understand the meaning of "chauvinism" and don't see it in this review, then you are just being obstinate.
Who would have thought that of all the actors on Gilmore Girls, Ms. McCarthy would emerge as the most successful?
Well done!
Well done!
9
The woman just makes me laugh...
14
I cannot wait to see it . . . saw preview at theater and it looks to be a great laugh.
Also happy to see Melissa with her new look; shedding some pounds was not only healthy, but I think it will open up some new roles for her. That clumsy, rude & obese character could only be thrown out there so many times.
Also happy to see Melissa with her new look; shedding some pounds was not only healthy, but I think it will open up some new roles for her. That clumsy, rude & obese character could only be thrown out there so many times.
4
Even with the weight loss she's playing the same role....clumsy and rude and crude.
2
Kristen Bell passes for an ordinary body now???
14
Why the "Bazooka Joe" look for Ms McCarthy in these pics? I guess I will have to see the movie to find out!
2
We asked that question thru the entire movie. If anyone knows, please tell us. It was strange.
1
Someone lost their fortune after being busted for inside trader - that's funny in of itself.
18
Yea, is the kind of thing that only happens in the movies.
I would rather be waterboarded than watch this piece of junk.
13
Laugh much, Eric?
9
Nobody is FORCING Eric to go to the theater.
1
Memo to Manohla: You don't drink things "...by the tanker". You drink them by the tankard.
10
I never got the Melissa McCarthy thing - her sitcom is way to mainstream for my taste - and I only made it through a few minutes of the boring and rather saccharine 'Tammy'.
And then I saw 'The Heat', where she and Sandra Bullock are the perfect odd couple and McCarthy is so funny, so mean, so crude, and so charming that I was hooked.
I didn't think she could top that performance in 'Spy', but she somehow did and now I watch anything she is in...except that sitcom, but then I never could stand network sitcoms.
And then I saw 'The Heat', where she and Sandra Bullock are the perfect odd couple and McCarthy is so funny, so mean, so crude, and so charming that I was hooked.
I didn't think she could top that performance in 'Spy', but she somehow did and now I watch anything she is in...except that sitcom, but then I never could stand network sitcoms.
10
Ms. Dargis - do you really believe that the female breast is "an ordinary body part"? How little you understand male psychology.
9
"Ms. McCarthy is proving that women can be comedy’s font, not just the killjoy who shuts off the tap."
Really? Did that need to be said? Is the reviewer an 80-year-old man? Get with program!
It's as bad as when my grandmother used to say ... "... she's such a nice lady ... and she's BLACK!"
Really? Did that need to be said? Is the reviewer an 80-year-old man? Get with program!
It's as bad as when my grandmother used to say ... "... she's such a nice lady ... and she's BLACK!"
19
It's hard to imagine by what metric "Tammy" did well enough- all I remember hearing was how horrible it was. I can't imagine running out and buying tickets to see this.
5
I love Melissa McCarthy...yes she is crass but she is side splitting funny....I watch all of her work on TV and in Movies...
5
Any relation to Fanny Hurst is purely coincidental! You nailed this one. Funny but not much good.
2
Hard to top "Spy," and this one doesn't.
5
I love Melissa Mc Carthy and wish she would do something serious again. Seeing her in "St. Vincent" was a treat. She's beautiful inside and out.
11
If she keeps working at it, maybe she will find her own "Groundhog Day" break-through movie. It took Bill Murray awhile to do this. On the other hand, I don't see his comedic talents and odd-Everyman personality in Melissa McCarthy. She seems to do best with a more aggressive version of Carol Burnett style humor, where a kind of goofy resolve is applied excessively to the material at hand. Given this review, I have little interest in seeing the The Boss, although it might provide some amusement months from now on Netflix viewing.
8
"Spy" was a breakthrough movie. And "Groundhog Day" isn't anywhere close to being Murray's funniest movie, in my view.
13
Groundhog Day had seminal plot device & will be remembered long after almost anything else he does.
3
"Groundhog Day" is a classic! Besides "Lost in Translation" the other pillar of Murray's career along with his Wes Anderson flicks.