On Feb. 7, Melissa McCarthy and Jason Bateman were taken to task for their comedy "Identity Thief" but it was the leading lady who bore the unfair brunt of Rex Reed's scathing and totally irrelevant review.
In fact, The New York Observer's critic took objectionable criticism to a whole new level and now Reed's critics are striking back in a preemptive strike against his vicious and unwarranted words.
For instance, Cosmopolitan "picked a bone" with the sassy scribe who dubbed the "Mike and Molly" beauty a "chunk of junk" and a "female hippo." With those words in mind, the women's site noted that, in 500 words or so, "Reed went out of his way to insult Melissa's weight."
Then writer Korin Miller asked, "Seriously, dude? What world do you live in where it's okay to rip a woman apart for her figure?" Then she added a comeback in the way of an analogy, saying, "It's like the equivalent of us [women] publicly trashing a guy for his penis size."
Putting his stature in perspective, Miller noted that doing a Google search turned up the fact that Reed is "no bean pole."
So how about what so-called journalist Rex Reed said about the actual movie?
Well, his headline just about tells the story of his viewpoint and his bias with the words, "Declined: In 'Identity Thief', Bateman's Bankable Billing Can't Lift This Flick Out of the Red." Apparently, award-winning Melissa McCarthy is not bankable? Did he every hear of a little movie called "Bridesmaids" for which McCarthy was nominated for an Oscar, a BAFTA, and a SAG award?
No need to ponder that question because it is beside the point. Reed's problem with her new flick isn't about the flick, it's about her. This was a"a personal attack on the leading lady," according to MSN, who went on to say that the critic who called her "tractor-sized" had a strange and unwarranted issue about her full figure.
That said, Melissa McCarthy herself has admitted to the press, and, in particular, to Jon Stewart, that she would love to become a diminutive size 6 through the world of magic, but that's not how it works. And, in this case, that doesn't matter.
McCarthy has earned rave reviews for the same film that the former television critic put down while putting down its lead actress as a "gimmick comedian." In fact, Steven Persall, the movie critic for the Tampa Bay Times, said that "Melissa McCarthy steals the show in an otherwise mediocre 'Identity Thief.'"
Persall called her "the funniest women in show [business] these days," which is a point Rex obviously either missed or is turning a blind eye toward because his bias against females. He apparently thinks those women who are of a certain size do not count as far as the success of being tops in the category of comedic genius.
Nevertheless, Melissa McCarthy has the last laugh against the rude Rex Reed remarks. This beloved Hollywood actress is also a relevant thespian who continues to make movies and television shows that make people laugh.
According to IMDb, this talent is in production for as many as three big roles in three big budget movies while also continuing her work on the popular sitcom "Mike & Molly." Incidentally, the Groundings alum has a best actress Emmy Award sitting on her shelf at home for her sparkling turn playing Molly Flynn-Biggs.
As for Rex Reed? The critic was once an aspiring actor who did have one role, according to IMDb. He played Myron in "Myra Breckinridge" in 1970 but his "success came in reviewing movies, not [in] starring in them."
As for his claim to fame these days? Well, Reed was "arrested for shoplifting three CDs from a record store" in 2000, alleges IMDb. Does that count? Let's check in with Melissa McCarthy about that. She may have anything to say, but maybe not. After all, this is one classy woman who has one amazing career going. On second thought, she probably doesn't have time for such nonsense.
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