Octavia Spencer & Melissa McCarthy Spell Crazy Fun with Thunder Force

It’s no secret that I love superheroes.  It’s no secret that I have been screaming about seeing curvy girl superheroes for decades.  It’s also no secret that I believe McCarthy and Spencer as comical as they come.  Well, baby Netflix, Octavia Spencer, Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone granted my wish with Thunder Force.

Lydia Berman (Melissa McCarthy) and Emily Stanton were best friends whose painful childhood disagreement resulted in decades of estrangement until the high school reunion rolls around.  In a last ditch effort to reconnect and drag Emily (Octavia Spencer) to the celebration, she takes a trip down to her multi-million dollar science complex.  While there, Lydia’s curiosity literally puts them into a conundrum that becomes problematic for all the wrong reasons.  Yet, the results supply an unlikely crime-fighting superhero duo attempting to fight off Miscreants with their super powers.

Was I there for the windblown hair, superhero stance and Superman-esque crime fighter suits – hell yeah!!!!  I was even there for that epic moment of these dolls squeezed into their Lamborghini within an inch of their lives, Emily being a Black female ‘invisible man,’ Lydia giving me Superman strength stunts and Tracy (Taylor Mosby) being super smart and following in her mother’s footsteps.  Not to mention that it would be safe to say that the Jason Bateman (The Crab) and Melissa McCartney’s love scene complete with Old Bay Seasoning and butter was by far the scene stealing moment of the film.

Real life besties, Spencer and McCarthy’s chemistry is delightful to watch.  They own every moment, stunt or otherwise with full throttle commitment.  Bobby Cannavale  (The King) is living his best life as a Miscreant whose temper tantrums are fueled by his trusty blonde sidekick Laser (Pom Klementieff). Taylor Mosby’s performance and presence is well beyond her years and I’m sure this won’t be the last we hear from her.

Thunder Force is kitchy, crazy fun that doesn’t take itself too seriously.  The pacing and some plot moments may not be ideal, but I’m gonna stand by my girls, Bobby Cannavale, Melissa Leo and director Ben Falcone for giving curvy women everywhere what we want and needed.  What is that you ask?  Confirmation that women who are smart, capable and vivacious don’t have to be a size 2 in order to portray superheros.  Proof that friendships can be mended and bonds renewed with a solid understanding.  Most of all, that love  (and lust) comes in all shapes, sizes and claws.  Produced by Netflix, Thunder Force is streaming now.