Jack Goes Confidential: ‘The Boss’—A Rags-To-Riches Misfire

Can we talk?

When it comes to Melissa McCarthy movies you pretty well know what you are in for.

Some, of course, are better than others.

Her best—and breakthrough film—definitely was BRIDESMAIDS.

In-betweeners include her buddy-cop comedy THE HEAT opposite Sandra Bullock and IDENTITY THIEF in which she co-starred with Jason Bateman.

And SPY opposite Jude Law and Jason Statham also delivered some raw laughs.

However let us not forget the dramedy ST. VINCENT in which we finally saw another side of her talents played out opposite Bill Murray.

At the bottom of Ms. McCarthy’s filmography has to be TAMMY which she co-produced with her husband Ben Falcone who also directed the unfortunate comedy in which Susan Sarandon was cast as Melissa’s grandmother.

Comes now THE BOSS which is also co-produced by the McCarthy-Falcone team and yes, directed by her husband—again.

So how’d they do this time out?

A grade above TAMMY. But not by much.

This time McCarthy plays a titan of industry who is sent to prison after being caught in an insider trading scheme. Her assistant all along is Kristen Bell.

Fast forward to McCarthy’s release now finds her on Bell’s doorstep with nowhere to go.

Ah, but there IS a magical re-entry into the business world to be had. It comes in the form of a cookie sales challenge from Kristen Bell’s daughter’s  scout troop.

Yeah, THAT’s the ticket…….

I won’t bore you with details and the rest of the fluff. Suffice it to say it all gets totally predictable with a good batch of our screening audience’s laughs being easily attributed to the foul language dished out on the soundtrack.

Hey, I’m no prude but I’ll admit of feeling uneasy with all the f-bombs and other oral goodies being dropped during the scout/cookie meetings.

As a tag line suggests: WATCH YOUR ASSETS…..

(Reviewed at Cinemark Palace)

THE BOSS grading out a raw: C

JACK GOES TO THE MOVIES Friday mornings during Kansas City’s Morning News on 98.1 FM, KMBZ.