Tammy

If Tammy reminds you of a certain movie about two women who take to the open road on a search for their authentic selves, you aren't alone. This film really should have been titled Tammy and Louise, a not-so-big leap considering that Sarandon plays a similar "agitator" part in both films. The big difference is that Thelma and Louise was complex and had depth. But with Tammy, you get the idea that the filmmakers just wanted to see how many jokes McCarthy and the rest of the cast could make, never mind that some of them were duds (and make cruel fun of the main character). The writing veers from earnest to downright mean, with little notice of where the mood could swing at any given time. You'll find yourself laughing, then suddenly cringing.

Buddy comedies work when there's chemistry and rapport between the two buddies. Tammy and Pearl are like oil and water, and their relationship and -- more important -- their subsequent bonding, doesn't feel rooted in anything relatable. Neither are the supposed romances they start up on the road. Frankly, the movie's a mess.