Christmas move: Genie (2023)
Melissa McCarthy achieves another slam dunk
I do wonder how Melissa felt about wearing so many rings at once, and is that tattoo on her forearm her actual tattoo or is it her movie tattoo?
OK, it’s been brought to my attention that perhaps my “reviews” (I suppose that’s the polite term for them) might be a little bit…spoiler-ish. It’s true. I do like to make specific comments about the plot. So perhaps I’ll try and be a bit more cryptic for Genie (Netflix), which, let’s face it, with Melissa McCarthy as the star, is going to be slightly less niche than many of the movies out there this year.
For this movie, think Bridesmaids but with more wishes and fewer poo jokes. There was very, very selective suspension of reality (many wishes achieved with no consequences but then the Mona Lisa appears in someone’s appartment and BAM it’s jail time for them!!) but mostly this is a story about how Melissa McCarthy is the hilarious sidekick of a guy that’s a bit clueless but ultimately has a good heart.
Top moments in this movie include:
Melissa’s many costumes, the best being when she decides to be a Department Store Christmas Tree (entirely gold)
The best doll’s house you have Ever Seen In Your Life
Is it the cinematography when they have location shots of NYC but they look like either tiny mini models of NYC or AI-generated distance views of NYC? That.
Melissa’s Scottish Accent (not great)
Melissa’s dagger - pulled out at opportune times (also not great)
Melissa’s obsession with Tom Cruise (great)
Most definitely a Melissa McCarthy vehicle, this movie features a bunch of unknowns (and Alan Cumming?!) who are charming but unmemorable. There’s some great Christmas Decorations and a lot of aesthetic snow, but not a hell of a lot going on in this movie.
And yet.
It’s fun, it’s compelling, it’s Melissa. 8/10.