‘Life of the Party’ Film Review: Melissa McCarthy Goes to College, But This Class Is Easily Dismissed

Melissa McCarthy may be a crown jewel in today’s comedy realm, but she’s not doing her audacious shine any favors with “Life of the Party,” a slapdash back-to-college vehicle that leaves her formidable gifts floundering.

It’s become all too apparent that of the two directors who have worked with McCarthy the most since her “Bridesmaids” breakthrough — that film’s director, Paul Feig (“The Heat,” “Spy,” “Ghostbusters”) and McCarthy’s husband Ben Falcone (“Tammy,” “The Boss,” and now “Life of the Party”) — it’s Feig who recognizes her strengths, who understands how to let her elevate material and bounce off the people and situations around her. (That usually starts with a halfway decent script.