Irreverent road-trip comedy banks on women power

NOW SHOWING By Rito P. Asilo | Philippine Daily Inquirer

MCCARTHY, BATES AND SARANDON. Romance isnt the only thing that makes their journey eventful.

There are crass jokes and politically incorrect situations in Ben Falcones Tammybut, the cool confidence of the films supporting actresses, Susan Sarandon, Kathy Bates and Sandra Oh, rub off on the movie and its polarizing lead star, Melissa McCarthy. The characters the trio portrays dont always make the right decisions in life, but they stand by their choices and refuse to get trapped in the perceived limitations of their gender.

For her part, the 44-year-old, Oscar-nominated actress is cast as a woman who doesnt mind getting on everybodys bad sidewhich is similar to many of her past roles (Bridesmaids, The Heat, Identity Thief).

When Tammys car hits a deer on her way to work, the accident sets off a series of unfortunate situations that expose her to further abuse: She gets fired for reporting late for work and catches her husband (Nat Faxon) having a romantic dinner with their next-door neighbor (Toni Collette)!

She goes on a road trip and grudgingly agrees to let her grandmother, Pearl (Sarandon), tag along (its her car and money). Unlike Tammy, who doesnt know where shes headed, Pearl wants to go all the way to Niagara, about a thousand kilometers awayto make her childhood dream a reality!

Something unexpected

Then, something unexpected happens when Tammy and Pearl meet Bobby (Mark Duplass) and his father, Earl (Gary Cole), during a stopover in Kentucky, halfway through their journeysparks fly!

Romance isnt the only thing that makes the journey of this mismatched pair eventful: Someone is hauled off to prison, while the other is forced to rob a shopdire situations that compel a pair of married lesbians to come to their rescue! Thankfully, the couple isnt used as fodder for silly gender jokes, but provides surprising lessons about fighting for things that truly matter.

The films irreverent humor is too in-your-face and broad to pass for sophisticated comedy some of its jokes work, while others dont. However, its refreshing to see headstrong women do crazy things that are often only expected from men and its even more comforting to hear them owning up to their faults, and learning from them!

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Irreverent road-trip comedy banks on women power