When the opening credits revealed that Ben Falcone was writer/director, I should have stopped watching. He’s helmed most of the recent films starring his wife Melissa McCarthy and they’ve all been mediocre. This one co-stars Octavia Spencer, who plays McCarthy’s best friend since elementary school. They reconnect years later and end up with super powers. In addition to McCarthy playing her usual bumbling loser, there’s lots of potential for physical humor. Sadly, neither of these opportunities is especially realized. There are some mildly amusing moments for McCarthy, but no situations or lines are especially funny. Spencer just plays the straight woman without any potential for comedy. Jason Bateman does provide some fun with his typically underplayed comments. The action revolves around encounters with villains, but it’s mostly just bodies flying thru the air. McCarthy needs to break out of her husband’s mediocre abilities if she ever wants her movies to get better. 
(2 / 5)
