Spy – 8/10 – Bone crunching choreographed action scenes combined with great R-rated comedic dialogue showcase how far Writer/Director Paul Feig (Bridesmaids) has come in his film shooting style. “Spy” is an almost spoof on past espionage films like the James Bond series, as well as the “Mission Impossible” TV show. With this featurette, it’s clear that Feig has watched a lot of both. The movie revolves around Susan Cooper (Melissa McCarthy), an unassuming, deskbound CIA analyst, and the unsung hero behind the Agency’s most dangerous missions. When her partner (Jude Law) falls off the grid and another top agent (Jason Statham) is compromised, she volunteers to go deep undercover to infiltrate the world of a deadly arms dealer (Rose Byrne), and prevent a global disaster. There was so much about this film that surprised, mainly in the success that Feig directs his cast to play against most of their typcast opposites to succeed with a character who they aren’t used to. Byrne and Statham were really the bread and butter that kept the film moving in it’s positive direction. They command the attention of the screen every time they are on camera, and they both bring out the best to make their roles work. Byrne usually plays the sweet type, so it was nice to see her as this ruthless drug dealer who refuses to ever take second in any situation. If Statham doesn’t do more comedy roles, i will really remove myself from his fan club. This movie breathed life back into an actor who many were questioning if his best days were behind him in the action genre. He is a sort of badass in this film, but he plays that role with a distinct level of clumsiness and stupidity that makes the audience see a new side of Jason that we rarely ever see. McCarthy delivers her best role to date, and i think a lot of that is a reflection of a cast that enhances her quirky schtick, but it removes some of the pressure from having to carry a movie by herself. Last year’s trainwreck “Tammy” was a low point for her, and it’s nice to see her confidence back with her longtime on/off screen partner, Feig. The pacing is solid at least until the third act of the movie. In fact, the opening 30 minutes of the film are the best from a comedy that i have seen in at least two years. With an opening credits scene paying tribute to 60’s Bond films, complete with operatic scores and sliding colorful backgrounds, the film has a nice style making this more than just another comedy. Unfortunately, the final half hour of the movie moves a little slow. This is as a result of the film abandoning the roots of it’s fast paced formula to this point, in favor for a cliche action finale that while satisfying, doesn’t move along as well as the rest of the film. This is really the only problem i had with the film that i am already considering for most pleasant surprise of the Summer. To keep the audience even more on the edge of their seats, there is a nice twist in the middle of the movie that even this experienced bombshell critic didn’t see coming. It’s about time that a movie finally casts it’s star in the light she has deserved. It sets a high precedent for her next collaboration with Feig, but with a movie as structurally sound as “Spy”, the sky is no longer the limit for this 1-2 punch.