The Boss

Melissa McCarthy stars as brash Michelle Darnell, a self-made financial guru—“the 47th wealthiest woman in America”—who is arrested and convicted for insider trading. When she's released from prison, Michelle is so broke that she's forced to bunk with her former assistant, Claire (Kristen Bell), a hard-working single mom who lives in a cramped second-floor apartment with her ‘tween daughter, Rachel (Ella Anderson). When Michelle takes Rachel to her Dandelion (think Girl Scout) troop meeting, she winds up tangling with another mother and, subsequently, concocts a plan to have the girls sell Claire's delicious “family recipe” brownies instead of cookies—and take home some real profit. Territorial integrity prompts a violent street brawl (shot in slow-motion) between the Dandelions and Michelle's recruits, Darnell's Darlings, and the film also features a romantic subplot involving a rival entrepreneur (Peter Dinklage). Raised in a Catholic orphanage after being rejected from a series of foster homes, self-reliant Michelle firmly believes that human relationships—aka family—are an unwanted burden, as is a sense of compassion. Co-scripted by McCarthy, and directed by her husband, Ben Falcone, The Boss is an uneven episodic comedy that serves up a vulgar, zany riff on female empowerment. Optional. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include extended/alternate scenes (17 min.), deleted scenes (14 min.), a gag reel (4 min.), and an alternate ending (2 min.). Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are the behind-the-scenes segments “Peter Dinklage Gets to the Point” (9 min.), “Michelle Darnell: Original Sketch” (8 min.), “Original Story” (7 min.), and “Everybody Loves Kristen Bell” (7 min.), as well as bonus DVD, digital, and UltraViolet copies of the film. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a so-so comedy.] (S. Granger)