Review of The Boss (2016) by Kaptenvideo — 08 Dec 2016

Talky but lifeless and charmless "comedy" about self-made business mogul (Melissa McCarthy) who goes to jail for insider trading and then bounces back, creating a cookie empire with former employee (Kristen Bell).

The best that can be said about this misfire is that they try different things – buddy comedy, a colorful person story, inspirational girl power story with swearing, later even some rom-com and action.

But nothing, even potentially the funniest parts like girlfight or comparing **** is developed far enough to have a real impact.

You may laugh a couple of times but the result really is a weak, talky series of sketches that never pay off, or should not continue for 100 minutes... but it sadly does.

What's worse, the characters are super bland (even Peter Dinklage and Kathy Bates are wasted) and the central heroine is as soulless and kind of zombified as the whole experience feels.

Still not convinced that Melissa McCarthy can carry a movie. There's no single point that she really makes this role her own, instead of weakly impersonating Danny McBride and Vince Vaughn in their most boring movies.

Thanks to the McCarthy's current star power and marketing it as a straight comedy, it managed to get 80 mil USD from cinemas. Way more than it deserves!

Considering that McCarthy is also one of the screenwriters, and her husband Ben Falcone director and also one of the writers, it's surprising how they can't play to leading lady's strengths.

Comparing to other recent big-name comedies, it's as useless as "Zoolander 2" and "Anchorman 2".