Tammy

Tammy

Rated R and Released in Grand Rapids 7/2/14

Reviewed 7/2/14 at Celebration North Theatre

with Anette

2 1/2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

Since I liked Bridesmaids and The Heat so much, both due to the hilarious Melissa McCarthy, I couldn't wait to see this. Tammy is a comical movie throughout and we laughed a lot, but I really didn't embrace the mixing in of the love story with McCarthy's "rough around the edges" usual character type. Both Kathy Bates and Dan Aykroyd have small parts that are a pleasant surprise. McCarthy's  husband Ben Falone (who co-wrote, directed and played a small role in the film), should stick with what works with McCarthy.

Tammy (McCarthy) is having a bad day, beginning with wrecking her car. She then loses her job, and the topper - finds her husband cheating. She wants to get out of town to run from it all, which she has a habit of wanting to do too often. A couple houses down is her sassy, hard-drinking grandmother Pearl (Susan Sarandon).

Grandma bribes Tammy with cash to go on a road trip to get out of the house from her family. It doesn't take Tammy long to think about it and they set off on a combative road trip. Foolish and ill-judged adventures along the way seem to be their theme. The pair connects with a father/son combo that leads to a little romance for both. Doldrums on that part of the story, but thankfully it was not the focus of the movie. Grandma and Tammy eventually circle back to where they started after learning some life lessons the hard way. McCarthy's lines will make you laugh and it may seem like much of the same. Nonetheless that's okay...that is what audiences like from her...and that is what they want to see.

QUIET Rating system: 2 1/2  Js

Quality: JJ

Understood story:  JJ

Interest: JJj

Entertainment:  JJJ

Time:  JJJJ