The 47th richest female in America falls on hard times after being imprisoned for insider trading.  Then, she discovers a tasty inspiration for her comeback.  Starring Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Bell, Peter Dinklage, and Ella Anderson.

It is so hard not to laugh when McCarthy is on the screen, even when you can’t believe what your eyes are seeing and ears are hearing.  She embodies the role of Michelle Darnell perfectly: a self-made, power and money hungry leader who manipulates and uses everyone she can for her own advancement.  And yet, there is an endearing winsomeness about her that makes you like her despite the foul, crass language pouring out of her mouth.

After her fall from grace, the only person who will take her in is her old assistant, played by Bell, a single mom who happens to make a divine brownie.  Inspired by the Dandelion group Bell’s daughter attends (Anderson is wonderful as the impressionable yet sensible daughter), Darnell convinces Bell to become co-owner of Darnell’s Darlings, a Dandelions’ knock-off, selling Bell’s brownies and giving part of the proceeds back to the girls who sell them.

The comedy is spot-on in this film, but it is overshadowed by too many disgusting, sexual references and excessive language used in front of children and by children.  As a parent (and a human being), I always find this kind of thing uncomfortable and completely unnecessary.  There is also a fighting scene between the Dandelions and Darlings, involving girls and moms beating each other up, wielding knives, and starting fires, which upsets the neighborhood.

I did find myself teary-eyed a couple of times during the film, as the theme of family is explored.  “Family is for suckers,” is Darnell’s motto, but she is forced to reconsider it and her greedy ways as she grows closer to Bell and her daughter.

All’s well that ends well, but for overall content, I cannot recommend this film.  It is a pass.