Tammy (11/11/2014)

Rated R for language including sexual references.

Starring Melissa McCarthy, Susan Sarandon, Dan Aykroyd, Allison Janney, Mark Duplass, Kathy Bates, Toni Collette, Gary Cole, Ben Falcone and Nat Faxon

Directed by Ben Falcone

Sure there are some very funny scenes, but be prepared for a lot of sappy cheese.

Tammy (Melissa McCarthy) is having a bad day. She’s totaled her clunker car, gotten fired from her thankless job at a greasy burger joint, and instead of finding comfort at home, finds her husband getting comfortable with the neighbor in her own house. It’s time to take her boom box and book it. The bad news is she’s broke and without wheels. The worse news is her grandma, Pearl (Susan Sarandon), is her only option—with a car, cash, and an itch to see Niagara Falls. Not exactly the escape Tammy had in mind. But on the road, with grandma riding shotgun, it may be just what Tammy needs.

No, it’s not a remake of Thelma and Louise. But when Susan Sarandon is co-starring with another female lead and a car is involved one is going to make comparisons. OK, so they don’t drive off the Grand Canyon but Tammy and Pearl end their journey at a Niagara Falls. There’s also no Brad Pitt or Michael Madsen instead we get a fellow alcoholic in Gary Cole for Pearl, and Mark Duplass, his gentlemanly son for Tammy. There is a robbery of a fast-food restaurant (which is really funny) to replace the convenience-store holdup.

I was definitely not a fan of Thelma and Louise, but Tammy was entertaining and made me laugh on more than one occasion. I wasn’t surprised by the jokes since McCarthy co-wrote the script with her husband, Ben Falcone, who also directed the movie, and, as an actor, plays a burger-franchise manager perfectly. And by the way, her over-the-top exit from the restaurant after she’s fired is hilarious.

It also wasn’t a surprise that we ultimately see a softer, prettier Tammy. The film tries (too hard) to mix the slapstick and the crudeness with heart.

From the first trailer to end of the film I couldn’t help comparing it to another film…Identity Thief. I love Melissa McCarthy. I think she is hilarious and her films make me laugh, but I hope this isn’t a pattern. I can only take so many films that have me rolling one minute and try to make me cry the next – or even feel empathy for the main character.

It was entertaining, but the film lags in the middle and they tried too hard to make me care…I was ok with just laughing. For me it was a “Rental.”

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
There are a lot of conversations about sex and one scene shows Susan Sarandon and Gary Cole kissing in the back of a car.

As far as profanity, there are about 17 F-words, over 50 S-words and several other profanities. There is also a lot of “name-calling” (i.e. whore, pervs, crud, stupid, dumb, jerk, imbecile, idiot, fat loser, fat, cheeseburger, drunk, Magoo, quitter, old lesbian, gay, crusty old man, Super Old Guy and pig.)

CONVERSATION STARTER:

1. How would you describe the way Tammy treats people?


2. How would you describe the way she is treated?


3. It has been said that, “hurt people, hurt people.” How would you say that is shown in Tammy?

Read Ephesians 4:32

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.


4. How does this verse contrast to the way Tammy lives?


5. How can you do a better job of being kind to other people and forgiving them?