The Film
Melissa McCarthy is funny. Love her or hate her, this is a proven fact. She has a lengthy resume of impressive film and TV roles. Last year, she received accolades (and banked serious coin) for the blockbuster comedy Spy. In 2016, she wrapped up her long-running TV show, Mike & Molly. These days, she's making headlines as part of the new Ghostbusters, which received a lot of praise as well.
Wedged right in between those last two films is The Boss, and it's a huge disappointment. It's not just because McCarthy seems to be on a roll (2014's St. Vincent should be in that list of accomplishments, too). It's because McCarthy had a hand in writing the film, along with her husband/director Ben Falcone. It's also a complete waste of Peter Dinklage.
McCarthy plays Michelle Darnell, an orphan who was never wanted by anyone, so she grows up to become "the 47th wealthiest woman in America." Of course, you don't get to be that rich without a little fudging, so she gets popped for insider trading. It's hard to feel bad for Michelle though, because she's such a terrible person. She always does and says the wrong thing. She's just awful. She's mean to everyone, including her longtime assistant, Claire (Kristen Bell). She also curses a lot, loves flashing her lady parts, and manages to incite a street fight between little girls.
That's okay though, because she falls a lot. Like, a lot. She also starts to bond with Rachel (Ella Anderson), Claire's daughter. That friendship sparks a way for Michelle to reinvent herself, along with Claire's brownie recipe and Rachel's Girl Scout-style troop.
If for one minute you start to feel something for Michelle, that's probably just disgust. Despite a few laughs and the pairing of McCarthy with Bell, this is a really mean-spirited movie. And that would be fine, but it's just not funny. McCarthy is typically fun to watch. The Boss isn't.
Need another opinion of this movie? We've got two of them. Check out Matthew Passantino's theatrical review of The Boss, along with Tom Fugalli's counterpoint review.
The Picture
This film pops with all sorts of bold colors, most notably from Melissa McCarthy's outrageous wardrobe. However, the 1.85:1 transfer does have a bit of softness throughout. That definitely takes away from some of the details that should be present in wider shots. The faces, clothing, and surrounding scenery should be just a little bit sharper. The close-ups fare much better, especially when it comes to McCarthy's hair and the texture on her clothing.
The Sound
The Boss isn't overloaded with surround sounds, but it definitely uses the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track better than the average comedy. The opening scene has rainstorms, rap (T Pain!), and helicopters filling the soundfield. The film also has a few fight scenes that elevate this track as well. Again, it's not something you'll want to bust out for a demo, but it's a pretty lively mix.
The Extras
This Blu-ray contains the theatrical version of The Boss, along with an Unrated Version that's a little over 5 minutes longer. If you need even more of the movie, there are tons of deleted, extended, and alternate scenes included with this set. That's pretty much the bulk of the extras, but the single-disc also has a Gag Reel, as well as separate shorts on Peter Dinklage and Kristen Bell. Probably the best of what's included revolves around Melissa McCarthy's original creation. That includes the "Origin Story" with interviews and a peek at the Groundlings, as well as the Groundlings' "Michelle Darnell - Original Sketch."
Final Thoughts
In a lot of ways, The Boss reminded me of Troop Beverly Hills -- and that's not a good thing. It does have a fun cast, decent AV, and a fair collection of extras. However, all of that doesn't make it worth a purchase price. There are very few laughs here and Melissa McCarthy's character is so unlikable. Proceed with extreme caution.
Product Details
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