Tammy is a 2014 comedy film directed by Ben Falcone and starring Melissa McCarthy (who co-wrote the screenplay with him). Also in the cast are Susan Sarandon, Allison Janney, Gary Cole, Dan Aykroyd, Kathy Bates, Toni Collette, and Sandra Oh.
Tammy Banks (McCarthy) is having a bad day. She's totaled her clunker car, gotten dismissed from her thankless job at the Topper Jack's fast food restaurant and, instead of finding comfort at home, finds her husband (Nat Faxon) getting comfortable with the neighbor in her own house. It's time to take her boom box and book it. The bad news is she's broke and without wheels. The worse news is her grandma, Pearl (Sarandon), is her only option—with a car, cash, and an itch to see Niagara Falls. Not exactly the escape Tammy had in mind. But on the road, with grandma riding shot gun, it may be just what Tammy needs.
Has nothing to do with the British comic book series from the 1970s.
Tammy provides examples of:
- The Alcoholic: Pearl. By the end, Pearl is now recovering after going to AA meetings.
- Alone Among the Couples: A contented example at the end, where Pearl (who is taking things slow with a man she met at the retirement home is with Lenore and Susanne and Tammy and Bobby at Niagara Falls.
- Amicable Exes: Tammy and Greg appear to be heading in this direction at the end when Tammy forgives him for his infidelity and they both agree to have a civil divorce.
- Big Damn Kiss: Tammy and Bobby at the end.
- Brick Joke: Cheetos, and the ice cream man that both Tammy and Pearl slept with.
- Beauty Inversion: The normally glam Susan Sarandon in a grey wig and dowdy clothes.
- Burger Fool : Tammy, at the start of the film, until she gets fired for her tardiness.
- Butt-Monkey: When it looks like Tammy might be getting some luck, it quickly runs out. But by the end Tammy does find happiness.
- Fat Comic Relief: Tammy, plus she's the protagonist.
- Fat Slob: In the beginning, Tammy is a rare female example - a dirty, lazy, unemployed deadbeat who at first only cares about herself
- Forgiveness: At the end, Tammy forgives Greg for cheating on her and wishes him and Missi well.
- Friend to All Living Things: Tammy gives off vibes of this when she accidentally hits a deer and proceeds to give it a version of CPR. Even after the deer hit her, Tammy doesn't even get mad. Only happy that he/she is alright.
- Hilarious Outtakes: Well, just one, specifically from the scene where Tammy is fired from Topper Jack's: The scene calls for Melissa McCarthy to rub her hair in some food on her way out, and when she does so, the wig she wears for Tammy's layered hairstyle falls in her face.
- Hot-Blooded: Lenore loves to blow stuff up.
- Idiot Heroine: Downplayed. Tammy's isn't an idiot by any means, but can be irrational.
- Lipstick Lesbian / Butch Lesbian : Discussed. Tammy comments on how hot Susanne is, and that she expects lesbians to look more like Lenore.Personally, I prefer the term "labisian."
- Loser Protagonist: Tammy is stuck at a crappy job, her husband cheated on her, and she's the Butt-Monkey of the entire film.
- Manic Pixie Dream Girl: Bobby takes an instant liking to Tammy because she's "not boring".
- Molotov Cocktail: Lenore uses a subdued version of one to burn Pearl's car after Tammy robs the fast food joint.
- My God, You Are Serious!: Don, when he offers to murder Tammy's cheating husband.
- Nice Guy: Bobby is a likeable and understanding guy.
- One-Word Title: First name of Protagonist Title.
- Only Sane Woman: Tammy's mother is the most down to earth person in the movie.
- Papa Wolf: Tammy's father asks his daughter if she wants him to make Greg disappear. Naturally, Tammy thinks he's only joking. He's not.
- Protagonist Title: First name One-Word Title style.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Lenore gives one to Tammy when the protagonist is pitying herself for having a crappy life without really doing anything about her crappy life herself.
- Running Gag: Tammy—and later, Pearl—knocking things over when they get pissy.
- Screw Politeness, I'm a Senior!: Pearl is rude to everyone.
- She Cleans Up Nicely: Tammy gets cleaned up by Susanne with a dark, flattering outfit and flat-ironed and washed hair, it's also lampshaded when a few of the characters like Bobby.
- Viking Funeral: Parodied. Lenore hosts one at her party. But it's Tammy's broken jet ski.
- Wacky Parent, Serious Child: Bobby and his father.
- Pearl and her daughter Deb.
- Waif-Fu: A small teenage girl is able to tackle the heavy Tammy.
- You Are Fat: Pearl gets drunk at a 4th of July celebration and when Tammy tries to get her to tone it down, Pearl says that at least she says she "isn't a fat loser" whose husband cheated on her.
- You Have Failed Me: A non-lethal example occurs at the start of the film. When Tammy arrives late to Topper Jack's, Keith has no choice but to dismiss her due to her tardiness.
