Melissa McCarthy stole the 2011 comedy "Bridesmaids." That quickly made her a movie star.
And for good reason. McCarthy can make just about anything funny, from a slow-burn take to an old-school pratfall.
That led to "Spy," "The Boss," "Life of the Party," "Tammy" and other comedy vehicles. Now, she's scrambling to make a comedy, any comedy, according to her new interview in the far-Left Variety.
McCarthy, 56, told the publication that she's often approached by fans seeking new comedies. And there's little she can tell them.
For starters, the Academy doesn't respect the comedic art form, she suggests. And that's more than a fair assessment. For every rare example, think Oscar winners Marisa Tomei ("My Cousin Vinny") or Mira Sorvino ("Mighty Aphrodite") there are dozens of sublime comic performances that never get awards season buzz, let alone golden trophies.
But our own Academy, our own industry, doesn’t respect comedy.... no real comedies are ever going to get awarded. I’m stopped 15 times a day by somebody who says, “I desperately need you to do another comedy.” And I’m like, “We are trying. I’m trying!” And people need it, that’s for sure.
McCarthy also says her industry is too corporate today and doesn't see the value of a mid-budget comedy. It's true that studios prefer big, noisy blockbusters these days that can make big, noisy box office numbers. Yet comedies have routinely made cash for their studios over the years.
And, if they bomb, they don't cost their studios $100 million or more. Bet the makers of "Supergirl" would have rather released a mid-level comedy than that stink bomb.
When comedies click with audiences, the results are huge.
Not "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" cash, but serious ROI. "Bridesmaids" earned $289 million globally. The budget? Roughly $32 million. Any studio head who dismisses those profits needs be replaced by an A.I. bot ... stat.
McCarthy would love to make a "Bridesmaids" sequel, but there doesn't appear to be much movement on that front. Co-creator/co-star Kristen Wiig said the original told a complete story and didn't need a second chapter. Director Paul Feig echoed those thoughts.
Of course, what McCarthy didn't say during the Variety chat about comedy was the obvious topic.
She didn't mention the "woke mind virus" that has crippled comedy over the past decade. Tell the wrong joke, or target the wrong group and suddenly the social media mob is out for blood. Even Todd Phillips, the "Hangover" director, gave up on the genre for that very reason.
Still, part of the problem falls on McCarthy's shoulders. She's chosen some particularly weak films, many of which were co-written with her husband, Ben Falcone.
Their 2021 collaboration, "Thunder Force," earned a withering 22 percent "rotten" rating at Rotten Tomatoes. The audience score? A whopping one point higher — 23 percent.
Either way, comedies are no longer considered cool or profitable enough in Hollywood. And that's a shame. And it doesn't appear to be changing anytime soon.
Sure, "Scary Movie" made serious cash earlier this year, but it's a mess unworthy of the franchise. "Super Troopers 3" bombed, too. So did "Busboys," the alleged throwback romp meant to revive the R-rated comedy genre.
Where's Deuce Bigalow and Ace Ventura when we need them most?
