Melissa McCarthy is currently one of the most popular cinematic comediennes. After a memorable supporting role in Gilmore Girls and a charming lead performance in Mike & Molly, she has had quite a mixed cinematic record, delivering some hits as well as misses.
After her stellar turn as Megan in Bridesmaids, her roles seem to be going down a similar road, with a few stand-out comedies, like Spy. Finally, with Can You Ever Forgive Me, she proved that she can be a versatile actress in non-comedic roles too, making fans hope that she experiments more in the future. Here are some of the films she has been a part of, ranked according to their score on IMDb.
The Boss - 5.4
The Boss is a popular pick in Melissa McCarthy’s filmography, but one of her worst-reviewed projects. McCarthy also wrote the film’s screenplay, which deals with an industry executive who’s sent to prison. After she’s released, she plans to rebrand her image and her reconciliations with her previous foes form the remainder of the story.
Critics and audiences found McCarthy’s acting to be the saving grace of this otherwise dragged-out comedy that couldn’t even be saved by an all-star cast, including Peter Dinklage, Kathy Bates, and Kristen Bell.
The Kid - 6.1
One of Melissa McCarthy’s earliest screen credits was in the Bruce Willis-staring The Kid, in which she’s credited as ‘Skyway Dinner Waitress.’ The movie is a mushy Disney production that drew a few favorable reviews from the audience, but was otherwise a critical dud.
Willis stars as an image consultant who gets a second chance at life when he gets to confront the eight-year-old version of himself. It was around the same time as this film’s production that McCarthy acted in small roles in many other films, including Charlie’s Angels.
This Is 40 - 6.2
This Is 40 is a spin-off of Judd Apatow’s classic Knocked Up, and while it doesn’t live up to its original, it still makes for a good-enough dramedy. The movie is a satirical look in the life of a couple as they struggle with the idea of aging and an incoming mid-life crisis.
Melissa McCarthy plays a supporting character called Catherine, an angry mother of a kid who gets shouted at by Leslie Mann’s character. This prompts Catherine to engage in several foul-mouthed arguments with the film’s leads. It’s a classic Melissa McCarthy performance, similar to many of her other overdramatic characters.
Central Intelligence - 6.3
Melissa McCarthy makes an uncredited guest appearance in Central Intelligence as the love interest of Dwayne Johnson’s character, Bob Stone. Much like Stone, her character was mocked in her high school days, back when Stone harbored a crush on her. Finally, the two reconcile towards the film’s end and engage in an awkwardly funny naked dance in a school reunion.
Central Intelligence is otherwise a highly entertaining spy comedy that would make for a great watch for those who enjoy films like McCarthy’s Spy.
The Heat - 6.6
The Heat pairs Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy together for a predictable yet funny buddy cop comedy. The premise follows both actresses as FBI agents who track down a drug lord while trying to overcome their own differences to be friends.
Fans of Paul Feig’s previous work are in for a ride with this film, as McCarthy is in top form and Bullock too adds some comedic flair to her role, reminiscent of her Miss Congeniality days.
Bridesmaids - 6.8
Gilmore Girls and Mike & Molly shot Melissa McCarthy to fame, but it was her stellar supporting act in Paul Feig’s Bridesmaids that turned her into a superstar. Bridesmaids doesn’t have that unique of a plot. It basically deals with the misadventures of a maid of honor, while she fights with another bridesmaid who wants all the spotlight on herself. But it’s the acting and the writing that make the film stand out from other similar entries in the genre and it paved the way for many other women-centric R-rated comedies.
While Kristen Wiig and the rest of the ensemble shine, it’s McCarthy’s portrayal of the sarcastic, relaxed character Megan that grabbed most of the attention. The role earned her an Academy Award nomination, too.
Spy - 7
Spy reunited Melissa McCarthy with Bridesmaids-director Paul Feig. Spoofs and parodies on the spy genre are common, so much so that they themselves can be parodied. In this regard, Spy is a breath of fresh air, as Melissa McCarthy’s sweet-talking, adventure-seeking Susan Cooper proves to be a hilarious yet compelling lead.
Her character is a CIA analyst who volunteers to become an undercover agent, much to the dismay of her mission partner (Jason Statham). Spy finds the actress donning several looks and learning some fighting skills. All in all, it breaks the monotony of her previous roles.
Can You Ever Forgive Me - 7.1
Can You Ever Forgive Me saw Melissa McCarthy channel her dramatic prowess, in a role that requires none of her usual gags and gimmicks. Nominated for her second Oscar, she was praised widely for her uptight portrayal of Lee Israel, a writer who was famous for plagiarizing several archaic letters from the past.
McCarthy displays raw emotion and dry wit in the film, which blends perfectly with the deadpan humor of her co-star Richard E. Grant. If anything, the film showed the possibilities that the actress can break typecasting and act in more serious roles, too.
St. Vincent - 7.2 (Tie)
St. Vincent is an incredibly moving comedy-drama that benefits greatly from its talented cast. McCarthy plays a single mother who leaves her son Oliver (played by Jaeden Martell before It fame) in the care of her grumpy, old neighbor, Vincent (Bill Murray). A bizarre friendship blossoms between the boy and the old drunkard, as they party at strip clubs and dive bars.
But beyond the comedy, there are heart-warming scenes when they both discover each other’s insecurities. Melissa McCarthy holds back her sometimes over-the-top comedic timing and delivers a more sentimental performance.
Go - 7.2 (Tie)
Melissa McCarthy made her debut with a small role in the 1999 crime film Go, which recounts a drug deal gone wrong from three different perspectives. The film was a disaster at the box office, but it fared well with the critics, eventually turning into a cult classic.
McCarthy played a minor character called Sandra and described the experience as quite a weird one. "Well, I felt like a nobody. That was the first time I ever did anything," she said in an interview. It took just a few more years for the actress to really break out and finally prove her worth as a lead and supporting actress.