Darkmatters Review: The Heat

The Heat (15)

Dir. Paul Feig

Reviewed by Matt Adcock

Watch out boys, there’s a new cop buddy team on the block – they’re armed, sassy and they’re all female…

Meet FBI Special Agent Sarah Ashburn (Sandra Bullock), she’s a super cop who has closed more cases than any of her colleagues. Single minded and determined – Ashburn plays it straight but finds it hard to get along with her team as they all resent her for being so darn good.

Everything changes when she has to team up with foul-mouthed street detective Shannon Mullins (Melissa ‘Bridesmaids’ McCarthy) when tasked with identifying and taking down a mysterious drug lord.

The Heat certainly lives up to it’s name, resurrecting the classic cop partnership formula and blowing the doors off with a hot blast of funnies – which when they work are absolutely hilarious – and even when they miss the film still rolls along on the strength on the two lead characters and satisfies on all counts.

"on my three count..."

Bullock has a lot of fun straight facing it with line like: “That’s how we do it on the streets. Word!” to which McCarthy replies: “Don’t do slang. It’s like watching a nun make out. It’s uncomfortable.” There is a joyful interplay between this odd couple and director Paul ‘also Bridesmaids’ Feig lets them riff off each other to great comic effect.

There are some obligatory gross out moments too including an eye-watering emergency tracheotomy conducted by Agent Ashburn – with her copying what she saw on a TV programme the night before.

The female focus is used well – poking fun at the “gentler” sex such as when the pair dangle a crim over a balcony Luther style but haven’t the muscles to hold him so they end up dropping him…

"not the Michael Mann version"

There is a core of female ‘girl power’ which should make this a movie that will go down well with action / comedy lover of both genders. In a summer packed with many macho blockbusters it is refreshing to have The Heat offering a counter balance.

The plot certainly won’t win any awards but all it has to do is serve up opportunities for McCarthy to go OTT with her vulgar, maverick idea of police work – which is just what she does.

I laughed loud and long and suspect you will too if you take this case – even if the British Summertime might wane, The Heat is hot enough to keep you toasty.

Out of a potential 5 you have to go with a Darkmatters:

ööö

(3 - hot stuff)...

Awesomeness öööö – the funnies are very good

Laughs öööö – as above

Horror öö – bit bloody in places

Babes öö – only averagely 'hot'

Spiritual Enlightenment öö – the painted nails of the law?

"not beauty and the beast..."