251. Life Of the Party; movie review

LIFE OF THE PARTY
Cert 12A
105 mins
BBFC advice: Contains  moderate sex references, drug misuse, language, comic violence

I remember when Melissa McCarthy was edgy and funny. Her character in Bridesmaids made me roar with laughter.
Sadly, her ability to tickle funny bones has diminished the more her fame has grown.
Life Of The Party looks exactly like it is - a collaboration of a fortysomething husband and wife who have lost their lustre.
Their attempt to get down with the kids is just a bit embarrassing.
Which is ironic because that is what McCarthy's character is trying to avoid throughout her real-life hubby Ben Falcone's film.
She plays Deanna, a caring mum who has just dropped her daughter (Molly Gordon) off at university when her husband (Matt Walsh) announces he wants a divorce.
To solve her mid-life crisis Deanna, a university drop-out, returns to student life at the very same establishment as her daughter.
Straight up, this prompts a litany of questions - starting with - is it really that easy to get into university in America.
Anyway, parking that and why a cardigan-wearing mum would want to share a room in sorority house when she only lives "22 minutes away", Deanna goes about immersing herself with folk who are half her age.
And, of course, this is initially to the discomfort of her daughter, her estranged husband and some of her less open-minded fellow students.
However, as sure as night follows days Deanna has become Dee Rock and is the toast of the university.
I remember mature students from my degree days - the older ones kept themselves to themselves because we were so much younger and less mature - but their was one chap of 40 who was down with the kids.
Therefore, the premise of Life Of the Party is not quite as far-fetched as it might seem.
However, the reason it falls down is that it just isn't funny. McCarthy's homely-mum-turned party-animal is hard enough to swallow but her antics and the other university characters are terribly predictable as is its cheesy outcome.
The edge has gone from McCarthy at the movies. Perhaps she should stick to TV (I loved her Sean Spicer impression on Saturday Night Live).

Reasons to watch: If you are a fan of Melissa McCarthy's less than subtle humour
Reasons to avoid: Not nearly enough laughs

Laughs: One and a couple of chuckles
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 4.5/10

Director quote - Ben Falcone: "Melissa’s mom, Sandy, was at our house and I it  just flashed across my mind, “What would it be like if Sandy in her 40s went back to college when Melissa was in her 20s?” And I was like, “Oh, wait, if Melissa was the mom, that’s a really fun part for her to play.”

The big question - Why do people pay money to see lame comedies?

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