Spy is one of the funniest films in years

Here McCarthy plays an unassuming, deskbound CIA analyst, and the unsung hero behind the agency's most dangerous missions. She's got the hots for her partner and top agent (Jude Law), and when he falls off the grid and another top agent (Jason Statham) is compromised, the comedy heats up as she volunteers to go deep undercover to infiltrate the world of a deadly arms dealer and prevent a global disaster.

If there's one reason to see this film, it's the comedic chemistry between McCarthy and her co-conspirators, Law and Statham, who are absolutely superb as they break out of their conventional roles and steps into the shoes of great funny men like Chaplin and Peter Sellers.

Equally brilliant is Miranda Hart as McCarthy's best friend and colleague; you will never forget the antics of this contemporary Laurel and Hardy duo, who turn the world of espionage inside out.

Super-sexy and very funny

Rose Byrne is super-sexy and very funny as a wealthy, Oxford-educated daughter of a recently deceased arms dealer who has come into possession of an unusual inheritance, a small tactical nuclear weapon, and Bobby Cannavale is sensational as the well-heeded and egocentric villain.

Funny is only funny if it rings true, and with Spy, Feig's hilarious screenplay and extreme wit sizzles.

"I'm a big fan of spy movies and I wanted to create a broad action comedy in that genre," says Feig. The comedy comes from the characters. It's not a spoof or satire. The danger and action are genuine. We wanted it to have the tone of a spy film, but still be as funny as we could make it.

"I also wanted to create a relatable story in which we could all wonder, 'If I was recruited as a spy and sent on a mission, how might I react? Melissa is perfect for the role because, despite being extraordinarily talented, she can still play the 'every person' and elicit a profound sense of empathy and support."

Noting that he and McCarthy share the same sense of humour and desire to find the heart of a story and not just the laughs, Feig says they are able to push each other into places neither could get to alone.

McCarthy simply credits the secret of their success to the fact that "Paul is great, he makes great movies, and I've latched onto him like a barnacle".

Insecurity and self-doubt

In latching onto her first spy mission, McCarthy's Susan Cooper must first let go of insecurity and self-doubt while mustering the nerve to abandon her desk at Langley (CIA Headquarters) to tangle with an assortment of well-quaffed European baddies.

"I read that women make better spies than men because they're generally better at reading physical cues, gaining trust and using intuition," says Feig. "This is Susan Cooper. She doesn't rely on brawn - she has to figure things out as she goes along. I enjoy working with and empowering women, and was intrigued by the idea of creating a female trio of protagonist, sidekick and adversary."

With Spy, Bond will never be the same again. Make sure to share this highly entertaining and clever comedy with friends and loved ones. We need films like Spy to make us laugh and realise how important humour is in our lives.

Read more about Spy and other new releases at www.writingstudio.co.za