‘The Heat’ is proof time is right for women in comedy
How do you turn up “The Heat” on a slapstick comedy with two of Hollywood’s hottest stars?
You bring in a couple of top-notch comics and hire them to steal scenes in supporting roles.
That’s what happened with “The Heat,” which opens June 28.
The in-your-face comedy teams Melissa McCarthy, who enjoyed so much success with “Bridesmaids” and “Identity Thief,” and Sandra Bullock as a foul-mouthed Boston street cop and an FBI special agent, respectively.
Comediennes Jamie Denbo and Jessica Chaffin, members of the Los Angeles-based comedy troupe Uptight Citizens Brigade, were drafted to play outrageous characters hired to help drive home sight gags littered throughout the funny picture.
In the R-rated film, directed by Paul Feig (“Bridesmaids”), the characters portrayed by McCarthy and Bullock instantly hate each other, agree to put their vast differences aside, and team up to bring down a drug kingpin. Denbo and Chaffin play Beth and Gina, respectively, whom they described as the girlfriends of McCarthy’s low-life brothers.
For the two, the impressive box-office success of “Bridesmaids” and “Identity Thief” is showing Hollywood that actresses can draw huge audiences when connected with the right comedy.
“Women are regaining the spotlight,” the 40-year-old Chaffin said during a telephone interview to promote “The Heat.” “Lucille Ball was able to (successfully) be on TV, and then the romantic comedies took it over for awhile.”
“We used to be just wives and girlfriends on screen,” the 39-year-old Denbo said. “The crossover (to leading roles) is coming back. We’re now seeing actresses in a film (‘The Heat’) like ‘Lethal Weapon’ which has a lot of action and comedy.
“Those (action films) are the movies we grew up on.”
For Denbo, a Boston native, the time is right for an intense comedy like “The Heat.”
“Our film is coming out in the summer, and people are ready to laugh again,” Denbo said. “We (the country) are firmly on the road to (financial) recovery.”
And what do Denbo and Chaffin think of the teaming of McCarthy and Bullock?
“They have a natural chemistry,” Denbo said. “Someone described them as Laurel and Hardy. There’s a great formula in the odd-couple structure, and they ran with it in a context that was perfect.”
According to Chaffin, “The Heat” allows the very talented McCarthy artistic freedom.
“The filmmakers just let her do what she does best,” Denbo said. “Her character has a strong point of view and a foul mouth. She (McCarthy) is also a very good straight-up actress.”
In addition to seeking film work, Chaffin found a touch of notoriety when she joined “The Real Housewives of South Boston,” a series of videos with online fans. Chaffin, whose television credits include “2 Broke Girls,” “Arrested Development,” “The Untied States of Tara,” “Weeds” and “Entourage,” also studied improvisation in New York under former “Saturday Night Live” regular Amy Poehler.
Denbo has made numerous guest appearances on cable and network shows such as ABC’s “Suburgatory,” Larry David’s HBO favorite “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and as a series regular on FX’s “Terriers.”
Chaffin and Denbo agreed now is a great time for women seeking comedy careers to make their moves.
“Our advice is to write for yourself,” said Denbo, who believes a sequel to “The Heat” is now being planned. “Don’t wait for someone to call you.
“You must self-generate your work.”