Uptight and straight-laced, FBI Special Agent Sarah Ashburn (Sandra Bullock) is a methodical investigator with a reputation for excellence--and hyper-arrogance. Shannon Mullins (Melissa McCarthy), one of Boston P.D.’s “finest,” is foul-mouthed and has a very short fuse, and uses her gut instinct and street smarts to catch the most elusive criminals. Neither has ever had a partner or a friend for that matter.

When these two wildly incompatible law officers join forces to bring down a ruthless drug lord, they become the last thing anyone expected: buddies. From Paul Feig, the director of Bridesmaids. Hysterical is perhaps the best word to describe the clashing of policing styles when by-the-book FBI agent Ashburn (Sandra Bullock) and volatile Boston police officer Mullins (Melissa McCarthy) are forced to work together on a complicated drug case.

Two strong-spirited women in a field populated by men, both officers have some serious attitude, are generally disliked by their fellow officers, and have a definite problem working with others. When the two are thrown together on a drug case, they immediately detest one another and a war of words begins and quickly turns nasty, and physical.

But forced to continue working together, the two women soon discover that even though their methods couldn't be more different, they can get significant results by joining forces. The Heat is funny--laugh-out-loud, split-your-pants, can't-possibly-be-anything-funnier-coming-next funny.

The audacity of Mullins with her crass mouth and brash actions is impossible to overstate, and the contrast with Ashburn's prim and proper demeanor and language is hysterical, thanks to good writing and genuine comedic chemistry between Bullock and McCarthy. Sure, the plot isn't particularly new and the film lags slightly in the middle, but The Heat is a one really funny film. --Tami Horiuchi