REVIEW: THUNDER FORCE

 

3/5

Thunderstruck.

107 Mins. Starring: Melissa McCarthy, Octavia Spencer, Bobby Cannavale, Pom Klementieff, Taylor Mosby, Kevin Dunn, Ben Falcone, Melissa Leo & Jason Bateman. Director: Ben Falcone.

A force of comedy nature ever since she was a 'Bridesmaid' s###ing in the sink. Melissa McCarthy is the comedy bride now. One of the funniest people alive like Saturday Night in New York City, or her spicy Sean Spicer parody that puts her in the same ranks as fellow alumni 'Ghostbusters' Kristen Wiig, Leslie Jones and the unstoppable Kate McKinnon. And as much as we are looking forward to the forever young Paul Rudd's 'Afterlife' and those so cute they could eat you up mini marshmallow men in that trailer that even Easter Egg's Baskin Robbins (Marvel fans always find out). That 2016 Paul Feig 'Ghostbusters' proton pack reboot was great, no matter how much trumped up MAGA hat wearing tw@'s had a problem with these girls not being afraid of no ghost either. Since then the twice-over Oscar and Golden Globe nominated actress ('Can You Ever Forgive Me?' with Richard E. Grant and of course 'Bridesmaids'...which when you think about it is really revolutionary when you consider that the Academy still doesn't have a comedy category, despite Will Ferrell and Jack Black's song) who ranked at number 22 in the New York Times list of the 25 greatest actors of the 21st century last year, let alone of of TIME magazines 100 Most Influential People has been on a tear. Recently in a matrimony collaboration with funny man husband Ben Falcone who has always showed up in classic cameos (the tourist who approaches a moped McCarthy ready to charge for directions is absolutely hilarious) here and there. Directing the likes of the hilarious 'Tammy', 'The Boss' of comedy, the mom that's still the 'Life Of The Party', the Henson Sesame Street puppet likes of 'The Happytime Murders' that tickled me like Elmo and most recently this taking the action/comedy hero cake shtick to the max with HBO's 'Superintelligence'. And to think it all came from telling Lisa Kudrow's principal that she was glad her husband died ("he probably killed himself") after Leslie Mann said her son looked like Tom Petty (heartbreaking) with an outstanding cutting room floor reel of outtakes that had Rudd losing his s###. If 'This Is 40' I can't wait for the next half decade. 

Thunder clapping like she was once crapping, now the 'Spy', 'Identity Thief', 'St. Vincent', 'The Heat' and 'The Kitchen' actress gives Netflix 'Thunder Force' during a 'Project Power' time the streaming service is trying to bring superheroes with a difference back like Charlize Theron's 'The Old Guard' after they gave up all their street-level defenders when Marvel took their cape and went home to the Magic Kingdom of Netflix's biggest small-screen rival with cinema almost dead and dusty tipped chair buried, Disney +. 'The Falcon and The Winter Soldier' this may not be, but you should still tune in like 'WandaVision' to something that still carries a shield like Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn's son. Like the 'Mystery Men' revealing some 'Hidden Figures' showcasing the power of women, McCarthy and her hot topic of which stadium band t-shirt she'll rock next is joined by the roses to her gun of 'The Help' star Octavia Spencer. Who doesn't need to "I'm fun" convince us, she's been funny ever since that classic, "am I supposed to come up with the questions too" line to Emma Stone. And if you answer that, then you can go eat her baked cake...if you get that reference like 'Gifted' co-star Captain America. From 'The Shape Of Water' with that lizard, to 'Get On Up' with the late, great godfather of soulful performances, Black Panther, Chadwick Boseman (set for his own posthumous award with 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom'). Or 'Snowpiercer' all the way to 'Fruitvale Station' with two human torches. This amazing 'Self Made' like a Netflix series actress has always been in Oscar territory like the Walk of Fame (give Octavia her star) in February. But here she forms a formidable force of a dynamic duo as they sing along to 'Batman Forever's' 'Kiss From A Rose' by Seal...quite possibly the greatest superhero soundtrack of all time. You too? Hold me, thrill me, kiss me, even kill me...but don't @ me...because I know you agree. Riding around in their Batmobile of a Joker purple Lamborghini, which makes for the films most hilarious scene when they all leather suit try to get out of the suicide doors of a car lower than superhero bar set by plastic nipples and the Batcard that you never leave the cave without...even if you want to. 

Invisibility is Spencer's power...but you really see her now for just how fantastically versatile she is. Super strength like her comedy bone is McCarthy's and with that they make a terrific 'Thunder' buddy tandem for Ben Falcone (he also appears her in a taser hilarious cameo that's set to recharge your 'continue watching' consideration) and his forceful comedy that doesn't always strike, but when it does you know its going to hit you in the funny bone with all it bottles. One superhero walk introduction moment looks like it has hair blowing in the wind of a fan that if added in would have been even funnier than that Chewbacca cut fan assisted impression from Paul Rudd's 'Ant-Man' that should have been left in that movie too. But it's still super. Like all the Academy talent here sending themselves up as well as the tights and spandex genre in this Chicago town(?) set series of capes flapping in the Windy City. Or the guy called Andrew...or is that Andy? Just like 'The Fighter' Melissa Leo back behind a screen like 'Oblivion' for this effective team, doing her best Jodie Foster impression. Or the 'Superintelligence' of Bobby Cannavale reuniting with the crack team of McCarthy and Falcone as a 'Devils Advocate' like political power with a Kevin Bacon 'First Class' complex wanting to be called 'The King' like 'Space Jam's' LeBron James for the Laker's 'New Legacy'. Cannavale who was also so classic in 'Spy' is a gangbusters gas here. Especially with his own team of Miscreants with the Elector like Doctor Strange produced Laser's of 'Guardians Of The Galaxy' star Pom Klementieff and her thousand yard stare that even Dave Bautista's Drax couldn't see as she walks away slowly. To the 'Ozark' crab hands of an 'Identity Thief' reuniting Jason Bateman with his own classic walk off. Best in scene stealing show and his comedy sarcastic tricks in years with a 'Miami Vice' rolled up sleeves, suited and booted 80's flash dance that will take you back to his 'Teen Wolf' sequel days, subbing on for Michael J. Fox's star studded and furred basketball phenom 'Too'. Still for all the legendary talent on hand here like 'Unstoppable' character actor of 'Godzilla' and 'Transformers' fame Kevin Dunn and his sayings over diner coffee and pancakes, its star of the future Taylor Mosby that could run away with it all in the future. Now is this changing of the guard worthy of a sequel? Or even the powering of a franchise project? We'd sure like to see lightning strike twice for this force that deserves a thunderous applause. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Project Power', 'Hancock', 'Superintelligence'.