Blind dates can go one of two ways: 1. Both parties hit it off, and some semblance of a relationship results, or 2. The two have little to nothing in common and they each go their separate ways. The Wrong Missy manages to depict a scenario that falls somewhere in between number one and number two. When Tim Morris (David Spade) is coerced into a blind date by his grandmother, his life is quickly turned upside down. On the blind date, Tim meets Melissa “Missy” (Lauren Lapkus) for the first time. He finds about a million different reasons why Missy is not the right person for him and why they should never speak again. When he, by chance, meets another woman named Melissa (Molly Sims), he makes a terrible mistake and ends up inviting his blind date (Lapkus’ Melissa) to a corporate retreat in Hawaii. By the time he realizes his mistake it is too late, and he is forced to spend time with the somewhat demented, horrifically uncomfortable Missy. Sometimes, however, things are not as they appear, and what originally feels like a trip to Hell, is realized to be fate.
David Spade has been known, for years, to deliver phenomenally funny comedy for adults (and for families). Box office hits such as Joe Dirt, Grown Ups and Tommy Boy are still regarded today as quality entertainment and have, ultimately, stood the test of time. It seems, however, that as of late (and I cannot speak directly to these films because I have not seen them) Spade has struggled to be a part of films that do well either at the box office or on Netflix. For the first time in years, Spade partners with a talented cast and crew and helps to develop a film that delivers both on a comical and personal level. The Wrong Missy is funny from the opening moments and finds ways to draw in audiences who are fans of raunchy comedy, yet, at the same time, writers Chris Pappas and Kevin Barnett and director Tyler Spindel are able to develop a story that reaches audiences on an emotional level. In many ways Spade’s Tim Morris is an everyman. He struggles to find the perfect woman to spend his life with, and, like the majority of the world, he has to work for everything in his life. His relationships, his occupation and the people he calls friends have never come easy, and he has had to build his way up from the bottom.
Ironically, Lapkus’ Missy is similar in the sense that she, too, struggles with much of what happens in her life. She has had somewhat of a troubled past that has led her to where she is today. The point of these characters is for audiences to appreciate what happens to them throughout The Wrong Missy, and they are able to relate to the hardships that each character faces. With this, audiences are able to appreciate the film as a whole.
Lapkus is not the big name that Spade is in the world of comedy, leaving the door open for him to shine brightly and steal the show. While he does in fact shine brightly, Lapkus is the star of The Wrong Missy. Missy is over the top, she is strange and, for the majority of the film, she really is too much to handle. What is interesting about this is the fact that, even though she has the potential to be incredibly annoying, a combination of the writing and Lapkus’ stellar performance allow her to become endearing and enjoyable. She is able to perfectly balance crazy and heartfelt and finds a way to, again and again, entertain the audience. Lapkus has made her rounds in the world of television and film for some time now (typically in a supporting role), but, for the first time, she shines so brightly that it appears that, without a doubt, she will find immense success in the film industry.
From beginning to end, Pappas, Barnett, Spindel, Spade and Lapkus creates humor that compares to some of the better comedies of the past ten years. There are only a handful of films that have made me laugh from beginning to end, and The Wrong Missy is one of those films. I lost track of the number of times I laughed out loud just in the first few minutes. The timing of The Wrong Missy’s release on Netflix could not be better. In a time where people need a good laugh (or ten), Spindel’s film delivers. Spade and Lapkus shine brighter than ever before and create a disgustingly beautiful comedy about love in all the weirdest places.
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