SYNOPSIS: Academy Award®-nominated star Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids, The Heat, Tammy, Spy) headlines The Boss as a titan of industry who is sent to prison after she’s caught for insider trading. When she emerges ready to rebrand herself as America’s latest sweetheart, not everyone she screwed over is so quick to forgive and forget.

REVIEW: Melissa McCarthy's newest comedy The Boss is a bit different than her previous work in Identity Thief, Spy and Tammy. She's just as funny, but in a different way. For one, she's lost some weight and looks great (props to her), but it does take some getting used to if you're accustomed to her humor as someone who's heavyset. Then in The Boss, she has the hairstyle, fashion and demeanor of a woman that's wealthy, influential and knows it. Again, this is different from her usual not-so-refined sense of style. That being said, this is all aesthetics here and though it does take away some from the film, I believe it will open up more doors for her in her career as an artist and so is a risk worth taking.

As a comedy, The Boss is well worth the watch. It's funny, entertaining and enjoyable, with many laugh-out-loud moments. McCarthy (Michelle Darnell) is brilliant in her quick-witted one-liners, a testament of not just her acting but her writing as a co-writer of the script. For fans of McCarthy, this is another one for the books. Kristen Bell (Claire) does well alongside McCarthy as her assistant and later her business partner. The two have a likeable chemistry and back-and-forth banter that transitions smoothly as their relationship changes from boss/ subordinate to partners in their brownie business.

Aside from the comedic value of the movie, there are also some lessons to be learned. As a viewer, you learn that character is what really determines how far a person will go in life. Darnell had been sent to prison for insider trading, becoming a felon who was broke and homeless, a far cry from whom she had been as queen of her empire. Yet, despite this she managed to start anew and build a successful empire in the brownie business. You also learn about taking a leap of faith and following your dreams. Claire had to choose between a job that she hated (but provided for her and her daughter) and believing in her brownies enough to go full time into the business. Kudos to her for taking that leap … an inspiration for us all. Lastly, Darnell learned the value of family - how to care for others and how to let yourself be cared for by others. This was heartwarming as a viewer having witnessed her rejection as a child and orphan.

To sum up, how does McCarthy act in this film? Like A Boss. Four out of five stars are well deserved here for this lighthearted comedy, great for a night out with friends and family, or a date. Her fans and soon-to-be fans surely won't regret spending the extra cash to see her on the big screen