Movies

Life of the Party

Melissa McCarthy stars in a scene from the movie “Life of the Party.” Rated: A-III, PG-13. WARNER BROS. | CNS

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Anemic comedy in which middle-aged mom Melissa McCarthy (who also co-wrote the script) is dumped by her husband (Matt Walsh) in favor of the hard-edged real estate agent (Julie Bowen) with whom he has been having an affair. She decides to get a fresh start by returning to the university she dropped out of where her now-grown daughter (Molly Gordon) is also a student. Her kindly, upbeat manner makes her the toast of her daughter’s sorority and wins her the heart of a handsome fraternity brother (Luke Benward). Everything about director and co-writer Ben Falcone’s star vehicle for his wife McCarthy rings false, including its affirmations of maternal and filial affection and its rounds of mutual feminine confidence building.

Watch out for: Frivolously treated off-screen non-marital and marital sexual activity, some of it in semi-public places, unintentional drug use, comic brawling, sexual and anatomical humor, a couple of crude and numerous crass terms.

Rated: A-III, adults; MPAA: PG-13

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