TAMMY
US, 2014, 96 minutes, Colour.
Melissa Mc Carthy, Susan Sarandon, Kathy Bates, Alison Janney, Dan Aykroyd, Mark Duplass, Gary Cole, Nat Faxon, Toni Collette, Sandra Oh, Ben Falcone.
Directed by Ben Falcone
This is very much a take-it or leave-it kind of comedy. It all depends whether you like Melissa McCarthy? or not. She has been around for quite a while but came into wide prominence with her comic turn in Bridesmaids. Since then she has been successful in such films as Identity Thief or as Sandra Bullock’s contrasting police partner in Heat.
Tammy was co-written with her husband, Ben Falcone, who also directed the film (and appeared in a cameo role as the manager of a fast-food outlet who sacks Tammy and is pelted with food by her). Melissa McCarthy? often plays larger-than-life roles and this one is no exception. But the trouble is that Tammy is not a very likeable person at all (either by many of the characters or by the audience). She is moody, childish and her behaviour, generally self-absorbed, as well as being something of a slob. It is very surprising to find that she is married to Greg (Nat Faxon) who, perhaps understandably but not justifiably, is in a relationship with, of all people, Toni Collette.
But this is a road movie because Tammy is so exasperated with every one, everything and her life, that she decides to go on the road, but having to borrow a car because the opening of the film shows her crashing into a deer because of a distraction and smashing the car. And, because she was late, and so many times, she has been sacked.
Her parents are played by Dan Aykroyd and Alison Janney. Her grandmother is played by Susan Sarandon. Her grandmother’s friends, a lesbian couple, are played by Kathy Bates and Sandra Oh. And then there is Gary Cole who is attracted to grandma and Mark Duplass, a nice fairly simple soul, who is genuinely attracted to Tammy. If nothing else, the film boasts a very, very strong cast with Susan Sarandon standing out as the extroverted, alcoholic, few-holds-barred grandmother.
Of course, there are all kinds of incidents along the road, especially because of grandmother Pearl, which includes a jail sentence and robbing a diner to get bail to get her out.
The culmination is at a fourth of July party held by the couple where grandmother behaves very badly, Tammy feels hurt, and the host, Kathy Bates, gives her a few solid words of advice.
Happy ending is implied – and reconciliation with mother, father, grandmother, and the nice young man. But, whether it will work out that way…?
1. A film for fans of Melissa Mc Carthy? Her collaboration with her husband, co-writer, director? A screen presence? Her popularity?
2. The title, overtones of the old films about Tammy?
3. The American South, the towns, the road and the injury of the deer, the diner, a road movie, the various landscapes, other towns, the bank, the mansion and its grounds? 4th July party? The musical score?
4. Tammy as a character, appearance, clothes, a slob, her driving, hitting the deer and her reaction, late, getting the sack, abusing the owner, throwing things at the food? Going to see her husband, his being with Missi? Reactions, their reactions to her?
5. Going to see her mother, wanting to move in, getting the car? Picking up her grandmother, a relationship with her, the drive? Conversations with her grandmother, the grandmother drinking, the police, the bank, going to Lenore, the party, drinking, her grandmother humiliating Tammy? The presence of Earl? The presence of Bob, his being attracted to Tammy, the conversations with him, awkward? His comforting, his reassuring her? Lenore and her good advice? Tammy and her moods, her father coming to get her, the return home, visiting her grandmother, thinking she was in a home, reconciliation?
6. Her parents, the response to, reactions, care, her father coming to get her?
7. Greg and Missi, the credibility of Greg marrying Tammy? And Missi walking out of him?
8. Susan Sarandon as grandmother Pearl, her life, talk, the old hippie days and her behaviour? Drinking? The car, the clash with Tammy, yet bonding, interested in Earl, the money, the bank? Her friendship with Lenore, the party, her humiliating Tammy, sobering up, forgetting what happened? Her change, going to the home for the elderly, working with the residents?
9. Earl, his type? Bob, laid-back, friendship with Tammy, interest in her, turning up, the ending?
10. Lenore, her partner, the lesbian relationship, their ease, hospitality, the party, the group gathering, 4th July, the celebrations?
11. The various characters along the way, Keith Morgan and his sacking Tammy from the diner, the police, the law, the guests of the party?
12. Very American comedy?
