Gwyneth Paltrow (Johanna Mortdecai)/Mortdecai- Normally I can take or leave Paltrow. She doesn't annoy me, but, doesn't thrill me either. But, I have to say I found her entertaining and funny in Mortdecai. The ease in which she takes Johnny Depp's bizarre silliness is notable. She is clearly the smarter half of this marriage. She knows it, her spouse knows it (although he might not admit it). And she's pretty good at faking a gag reflex.
Katherine Heigl (Mona Champagne)/Home Sweet Hell- What is this? I nominate Gwyneth Paltrow AND Katherine Heigl in the same year? Have I lost my mind? Maybe. But, I have to give credit where it's due. I've said on many an occasion that Heigl needs to break out of rom-com Hell and she did it here as the uber-controlling wife of a frazzled furniture store owner. I mentioned in my review that I wasn't sure how much Heigl was truly acting in this part, but, regardless, she made me laugh and was clearly the driving force in the film.
Melissa McCarthy (Susan Cooper)/Spy- McCarthy is the comedy queen of film right now and Spy just proves it even more. She shines as an unassuming CIA Analyst who is secretly a badass. She's a non-stop laugh factory.
Amy Schumer (Amy Townsend)/Trainwreck- Schumer wrote and stars as the main character in this unconventional romantic comedy about a commitment-phobic journalist who unexpectedly falls for the subject of her next article. Anyone who follows Schumer knows she is a comic force, but she also shows convincing dramatic depth when called upon. It's a great performance that deserves all the recognition it has received since the film's release.
Jennifer Lawrence (Joy)/Joy- Lawrence gives a nuanced performance in this dramedy based loosely on the life of inventor extraordinaire, Joy Mangano. The character is a fascinating dichotomy of traits. She's naïve yet savvy. Tough yet tender. Definitely beleaguered. That much is certain.
Please anybody but Jennifer..
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