When it comes to comedy this day and age, movie executives don’t look very far. There are only a handful of reliable actors who can tickle an audience’s funny bone. One such person has been making waves in recent years, making a name for herself and cementing her presence in the realm of filmed entertainment. That individual is Melissa McCarthy and ever since 2011’s Bridesmaids and her work in the popular sitcom Mike & Molly, she has been making viewers laugh pretty consistently. Her latest film Spy is a fun big budget action comedy that continues to showcase the actress’ talent in the comedy arena while offering some pretty decent action sequences courtesy of the strong cast and filmmaker Paul Feig.

Spy focuses on Susan Cooper (McCarthy), a CIA analyst who seems permanently glued to her desk. She works behind the scenes with partner Bradley Fine (Jude Law), who is compromised during a mission. Cooper then volunteers to go out into the field to complete the mission. The mission’s targets include nuclear arms dealers Rayna Boyanov (Rose Byrne) and De Luca (Bobby Cannavale). Along the way, Cooper encounters Rick Ford (Jason Statham), a fellow agent whose overconfidence only serves to complicate things.

With a star-studded cast and the highly capable Paul Feig at the helm, Spy is a film that will probably exceed audiences’ expectations. The humor is fresh and original, the European locales are breathtaking and the chase sequences and fight scenes are downright intense. There is a fantastic balance between the comedy and action, making for one of the more fun film rides in recent times. Also worth noting is that this is the third film McCarthy and Feig have collaborated on. The first two being Bridesmaids and The Heat and they are slated to work again on the upcoming Ghostbusters reboot. Obviously these two have a very successful working relationship and Spy is a continuation of said relationship.

The supporting cast in Spy is without a doubt one of the film’s best features. Jude Law’s James Bond-esque agent is brilliant and his screen time is painfully brief. Jason Statham provides some of the movie’s biggest laughs as a cocky agent who seems to defy death and sanity at every turn. Rose Byrne plays a sexy villainess with some great deadpan delivery of her lines. Bobby Cannavale seems to have just been thrown in but his Italian arms dealer is another strong villain. Allison Janney is in fine form as a CIA director and British comedian Miranda Hart is quite amusing as Cooper’s coworker and friend. Last but not least is Peter Serafinowicz, who plays a sleazy but hilarious Italian operative.

At first glance, one might think the premise of Spy is stupid and juvenile but once you give the film a try and peel away its layers, you will find an action comedy that is not only funny but smart, charming and utterly gripping. Paul Feig has taken all the espionage thriller tropes and mixed it with his usual toilet humor, making for a movie that will hit all the right notes with audiences. Spy may not be a perfect film by any means but it’s a damn fun ride that will not only make you laugh but get your adrenaline pumping as well. Melissa McCarthy and the rest of the all star cast are in fine form here and Paul Feig has assembled them to put on quite a show and a great addition to the summer box office.