Extra DVD

Starring: Melissa McCarthy, Jude Law, Jason Statham, Rose Byrne, Miranda Hart, Allison Janney, Bobby Cannavale, 50 Cent.

Suave secret agent Bradley Fine (Jude Law) completes some of the CIA’s most dangerous missions thanks to the quick-thinking and hi-tech gadgetry of analyst Susan Cooper (Melissa McCarthy).

He takes all of the acclaim while Susan remains firmly in the background.

When Bradley and other agents, including British bruiser Rick Ford (Jason Statham), are compromised, Susan puts herself forward for active duty to infiltrate the inner circle of arms dealer Rayna Boyanov (Rose Byrne).

CIA deputy director Elaine Crocker (Allison Janney) places her trust in Susan to complete the perilous mission without any field experience.

Guided by her dithering colleague Nancy Artingstall (Melissa Hart), Susan adopts a series of dowdy disguises to get close to Rayna and scheming Sergio De Luca (Bobby Cannavale) without arousing suspicion.

Neatly timed for release on home formats as Spectre shoots to kill in cinemas, Spy is a terrifically entertaining caper, which would leave James Bond decidedly shaken and stirred by the heroine’s unorthodox approach to 21st-century espionage.

McCarthy throws herself into her role with gusto, mixing steeliness with lovability as she battles armed henchmen, speeds after a target on a scooter and tries to stop a bad guy from escaping in his helicopter.

Hart essentially plays herself, but she’s a snug fit amidst a strong Anglo-American cast. The spirit of 007 pervades every glossy frame, but with old-school chauvinism turned on its head to affirm a message of girl power and independence.

Brains arm-wrestle brawn in writer-director Paul Feig’s politically incorrect and uproarious script, including an amusing cameo from rapper 50 Cent as himself.

Rating: 4/5

Self/less (Cert 12)