Life of the Party

Melissa McCarthy finds a novel way of bouncing back from a divorce in this story of a mum who joins her daughter's college sorority. Sitting awkwardly between a fish-out-of-water tale and a story of middle-age renewal, this comedy is perhaps a little bit too sweet when compared to 2003's Old School or the granddaddy of bawdy college romps, National Lampoon's Animal House (1978). While there are moments of comedic partying, McCarthy's Deanna becomes more of a maternal figure than a late blooming reveller. It's a worthy direction to take as it focuses on remaining strong whatever life throws at you. However, it's not particularly funny, finding only guilty giggles where belly laughs were needed. The star gives it her all, but is missing someone to bounce off amid a cast of college-movie stereotypes. Life of the Party will offer laughs for those who enjoy McCarthy's blunderbuss charm, but overall the film is too well behaved to be memorable.