Melissa McCarthy may be heading back to school in her new comedy, Life of the Party, about a suddenly single housewife who enrolls in the same college as her daughter, but the actress has been serving us a master class in how to be hilarious for years.
Let’s take a look back at the superstar’s funniest on-screen moments in preparation for Life of the Party to hit theaters on May 11.
Airplane Scene from Bridesmaids
While Melissa McCarthy had already been on TV for years in shows like Gilmore Girls and Mike & Molly, it was her character, Megan, in Bridesmaids that made her a household name. The actress was even nominated for an Oscar for her role, which is extremely impressive considering how comedic movies are almost always overlooked when it comes to the Academy Awards. And while any scene in the film can be used to illustrate how hilarious she was, we’re going with the airplane scene that she stars in opposite her real-life husband, Ben Falcone.
Radio Mix from Identity Thief
In 2013, McCarthy starred in Identity Thief as a con artist living a luxurious life after stealing the identity of Jason Bateman’s character, Sandy. And although critics didn’t take kindly to the film, it was undeniable that the actress was mesmerizing to watch on screen, especially when it comes to physical comedy. Here she shows off her improv and musical skills.
Dandelion Meeting from The Boss
In 2016’s The Boss, McCarthy plays a wealthy CEO who loses everything after being busted for insider trading. The ex-con eventually cooks up a scheme that finds her selling Dandelion Cookies (based off of the popular Girl Scout fundraiser) as a way to rebuild her empire. The scene in which she first visits the Dandelions hilariously juxtaposes her brash personality against a group of young girls and finds her facing off against an unlikeable troupe mother.
Drunk Dancing in The Heat
Melissa McCarthy teamed up with Sandra Bullock in 2013 for the buddy cop comedy The Heat. And while most of the comedy came from illustrating how different the two police officers are from each other, one of the funniest scenes is when they let their hair down at a bar and start having fun together.
Restaurant Scene from Spy
2015’s Spy was as much a celebration of the spy-movie genre as it was a parody. And while she had incredible scenes with co-stars Jason Statham, Rose Byrne, and Miranda Hart, it was her crush on super-spy Jude Law that provided some of the funniest moments in the film.
Principal’s Office from This Is 40
McCarthy only had a brief cameo in 2012’s This Is 40, but it was one of the most memorable parts of the entire film. The scene, in which she played an aggressive mother facing off against Leslie Mann and Paul Rudd, was so funny that it even got replayed as one giant, hysterical outtake during the end credits.
Getting Fired in Tammy
McCarthy goes on a road trip with her grandmother, played by Susan Sarandon, in the 2014 film Tammy, but one of the funniest scenes once again has her acting opposite her husband. Falcone plays Tammy’s boss at the fictional fast food joint Topper Jack’s, and she doesn’t take it well (to say the least) when he decides to fire her.
Playing Sean Spicer on Saturday Night Live
Okay, so this one is technically not a movie, but it still needs to be celebrated. McCarthy surprised audiences with an unexpected appearance on Saturday Night Live in February 2017 when she was tapped to play now-former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer for the episode’s cold open. The jokes were all funny, but it’s the overall performance that is just spot-on parody gold. The comedian continued to pop up as Spicer throughout SNL‘s 42nd season, and the impression even won her the award for Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series at the Creative Arts Emmys that year.
