Action/comedy where ordinary woman is swept into adventure
April 13, 2024 9:15 AM Subscribe
Lately I’ve enjoyed the movies Argylle, Spy, and The Lost City. I think part of what I like is that they’re witty action/comedies that involve ordinary, likeable women going about their routine lives who are then suddenly swept into espionage or adventure. Can you recommend similar non-sexist action/comedies that I might like?
*Yes, I know in Spy Melissa McCarthy works for a spy agency but she isn’t in the field at first—she works in an office.
*Yes, I know in Spy Melissa McCarthy works for a spy agency but she isn’t in the field at first—she works in an office.
Romancing the Stone & Jewel of the Nile are the obvious ones - not sure how they hold up to 2024 sexism standards though
posted by mannequito at 9:21 AM on April 13 [20 favorites]
posted by mannequito at 9:21 AM on April 13 [20 favorites]
The Net.
posted by johngoren at 9:28 AM on April 13 [2 favorites]
posted by johngoren at 9:28 AM on April 13 [2 favorites]
The Mummy and The Mummy Returns - it's set between the World Wars so there's a bit of period sexism but only in the background. She's a librarian who falls into archeology and supernatural adventure. Very fun turn of the millennium movies with Rachel Weisz and Brendan Fraser at their prettiest.
Everything Everywhere All At Once - very much this plot, though it has more serious turns. Ordinary likeable woman tries to straighten out her taxes and falls into extra-dimensional adventure. And sweeps the Oscars (movie, script, editing, directing and all three applicable acting categories because there's no lead actor). It's like, this trope but on serious steroids. And mushrooms. And you'll never look at googly eyes the same again
posted by I claim sanctuary at 9:30 AM on April 13 [12 favorites]
Everything Everywhere All At Once - very much this plot, though it has more serious turns. Ordinary likeable woman tries to straighten out her taxes and falls into extra-dimensional adventure. And sweeps the Oscars (movie, script, editing, directing and all three applicable acting categories because there's no lead actor). It's like, this trope but on serious steroids. And mushrooms. And you'll never look at googly eyes the same again
posted by I claim sanctuary at 9:30 AM on April 13 [12 favorites]
Knight and Day. Cameron Diaz is excellent in it.
posted by evilmomlady at 9:38 AM on April 13 [4 favorites]
posted by evilmomlady at 9:38 AM on April 13 [4 favorites]
If you're willing to look back to older TV shows, the obvious answer is Scarecrow and Mrs. King. (Admittedly, I haven't seen it since its original run so it likely has era-typical problematic elements regarding gender and sexism.)
posted by sardonyx at 9:44 AM on April 13 [4 favorites]
posted by sardonyx at 9:44 AM on April 13 [4 favorites]
The Spy Who Dumped Me - I think audiences didn't handle its mix of violence and goofy comedy well, but I like the fact that the two main characters make bad decisions because they have no idea what they're doing. The primary main character is just a random Trader Joe's employee, ffs. It would've benefited from more BIPOC characters (can't believe no one looked at the casting and went "yikes") but overall it's a fun over-the-top popcorn movie. Be advised: high body count.
posted by wintersweet at 9:51 AM on April 13 [10 favorites]
posted by wintersweet at 9:51 AM on April 13 [10 favorites]
Two older ones that are a bit like Spy (in that main character is already in an adjacent field but gets sucked into espionage):
Jumpin' Jack Flash
The Net
posted by Isingthebodyelectric at 9:56 AM on April 13 [6 favorites]
Jumpin' Jack Flash
The Net
posted by Isingthebodyelectric at 9:56 AM on April 13 [6 favorites]
Oh my god....Danielle MacDonald in The Tourist. It's a series on Netflix. The show is good overall but her character.....! She is sublime. The show is not "about her" but it is totally about her. 12 episodes.
posted by the webmistress at 10:27 AM on April 13 [2 favorites]
posted by the webmistress at 10:27 AM on April 13 [2 favorites]
I think the HBO series The Flight Attendant fits the bill. I thought the first season was really good (and it's a self-contained story); I don't remember the second season at all (not sure we even finished it). Strong supporting cast of interesting women in addition to the lead—Zosia Mamet, Rosie Perez, Michelle Gomez.
posted by bcwinters at 10:46 AM on April 13 [2 favorites]
posted by bcwinters at 10:46 AM on April 13 [2 favorites]
Some older stuff:
Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)
Mystery Date (1991). There is a bit of sexist stuff during the setup (within the first 15 minutes or so), because the brother of the main male protagonist is fairly quickly revealed as not a good guy, and has a very sexist attitude toward women - but don't worry, he and his attitude get thoroughly repudiated going forward. Once things get going that drops by the wayside (and, as I said, the brother gets revealed as a creep in a variety of ways.)
If you are willing to see something where the roles are reversed and the guy is the ordinary one, then Something Wild would be worth a watch, though it gets a bit dark part way through.
French Kiss.
Year of the Comet.
posted by gudrun at 11:18 AM on April 13 [2 favorites]
Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)
Mystery Date (1991). There is a bit of sexist stuff during the setup (within the first 15 minutes or so), because the brother of the main male protagonist is fairly quickly revealed as not a good guy, and has a very sexist attitude toward women - but don't worry, he and his attitude get thoroughly repudiated going forward. Once things get going that drops by the wayside (and, as I said, the brother gets revealed as a creep in a variety of ways.)
If you are willing to see something where the roles are reversed and the guy is the ordinary one, then Something Wild would be worth a watch, though it gets a bit dark part way through.
French Kiss.
Year of the Comet.
posted by gudrun at 11:18 AM on April 13 [2 favorites]
The Long Kiss Goodnight has Geena Davis bringing up her daughter in a small town - then when bad guys show up, she re-discovers her forgotten past as an undercover butt-kicking secret deadly killer. Lots of fun. Great role for Samuel L Jackson too.
posted by rd45 at 11:23 AM on April 13 [6 favorites]
posted by rd45 at 11:23 AM on April 13 [6 favorites]
There'a an Australian series called "Run, Lola, Run" that is NOT the 1998 movie. The series runs over a couple of seasons, involves two women, and features a lot of the beautiful environment in Australia. It's action packed and has a lot of plot twists. I really enjoyed it.
posted by effluvia at 12:05 PM on April 13 [1 favorite]
posted by effluvia at 12:05 PM on April 13 [1 favorite]
I think A Simple Favor would fit? Mommy vlogger (Anna Kendrick) befriends glamorous PR director (Blake Lively) who goes missing days later.
posted by meemzi at 12:36 PM on April 13 [4 favorites]
posted by meemzi at 12:36 PM on April 13 [4 favorites]
Polite Society is a deranged modern-day take on a Jane Austen story with a South Asian cast and kung-fu.
Mr Right, also with Anna Kendrick, might scratch that itch.
posted by adamrice at 1:34 PM on April 13 [4 favorites]
Mr Right, also with Anna Kendrick, might scratch that itch.
posted by adamrice at 1:34 PM on April 13 [4 favorites]
Romancing the Stone, which has been mentioned, holds up surprisingly well. Kathleen Turner's Joan is not as clueless as everyone thinks she is and Michael Douglas' Jack is more clueless than he thinks he is and the pairing is a delight. I wouldn't say it's completely problem-free -- it's still a movie from 30 years ago -- but I was surprised at how well it landed when I watched it a couple of years ago.
It's not great but Shotgun Wedding also ticks some of these boxes.
Likewise, you kind of know what you're going to get with Jungle Cruise but it's charming enough.
posted by edencosmic at 2:37 PM on April 13 [3 favorites]
It's not great but Shotgun Wedding also ticks some of these boxes.
Likewise, you kind of know what you're going to get with Jungle Cruise but it's charming enough.
posted by edencosmic at 2:37 PM on April 13 [3 favorites]
Mr. Right!!! Anna Kendrick and that guy, and it's fun, and has a good soundtrack! She's going through a breakup, and an assassin comes into her life. But he's not a normal assassin; he kills the people who hired him to kill people. Dancing, New Orleans, and Tim Roth ensue.
posted by Snowishberlin at 3:20 PM on April 13 [1 favorite]
posted by Snowishberlin at 3:20 PM on April 13 [1 favorite]
Coming back to add an oldie but something that still holds up fairly well, The African Queen.
posted by gudrun at 4:26 PM on April 13 [2 favorites]
posted by gudrun at 4:26 PM on April 13 [2 favorites]
Knives Out (Ana de Armas) and Glass Onion (Janelle Monae). These are more about couples, but have strong female characters: Game Night (Rachel McAdams), Keeping Up With the Joneses (Isla Fisher).
posted by acidic at 5:23 PM on April 13 [2 favorites]
posted by acidic at 5:23 PM on April 13 [2 favorites]
Charade (1963) - Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant
posted by dunhamrc at 8:38 PM on April 13 [5 favorites]
posted by dunhamrc at 8:38 PM on April 13 [5 favorites]
Response by poster: Oh wow, thank you everyone for all these recommendations! Some I’ve already seen and loved (Killing Eve, Everything Everywhere All At Once, The Flight Attendant, Wanted (Australia), Polite Society, Charade. I’m looking forward to checking out the ones I haven’t seen yet.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 8:40 PM on April 13
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 8:40 PM on April 13
And of course, gotta include True Lies.
posted by azpenguin at 10:12 PM on April 13 [2 favorites]
posted by azpenguin at 10:12 PM on April 13 [2 favorites]
Foul Play would seem to fit the bill. It's a 1978 romantic comedy with Hitchcock-y thriller elements, starring Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase. I haven't seen it in many years and it might have aged badly, but it was written and directed by the screenwriter of Silver Streak, 9 to 5 and Harold and Maude, so it oughtta be an interesting watch at least.
posted by Ursula Hitler at 12:35 AM on April 14
posted by Ursula Hitler at 12:35 AM on April 14
Yonderland
posted by kenchie at 5:45 AM on April 14 [1 favorite]
posted by kenchie at 5:45 AM on April 14 [1 favorite]
Nim's Island
The 'ordinary woman' is a successful author, a recluse with agoraphobia. Jodie Foster, Gerard Butler, plus an excellent child actor.
Tropical islands, sailing high seas.
posted by evenolderthanshelooks at 4:44 PM on April 14
The 'ordinary woman' is a successful author, a recluse with agoraphobia. Jodie Foster, Gerard Butler, plus an excellent child actor.
Tropical islands, sailing high seas.
posted by evenolderthanshelooks at 4:44 PM on April 14
Red, maybe? He liked her voice so much he kept tearing up the check so he'd have a chance to keep talking to her, but he's a "retired" special operative...
posted by kschang at 6:34 AM on April 15 [1 favorite]
posted by kschang at 6:34 AM on April 15 [1 favorite]
I immediately though of Mrs. Pollifax, the retiree turned spy. These are cute and funny books, by Dorothy Gilman, but you want movies.
However, The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax was made into two movies, Mrs. Pollifax-Spy in 1970 --so an oldie starring Rosalind Russell, if you're like older movies. It was remade in 1999 with Angela Lansbury as The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax in a made-for-television version .
posted by BlueHorse at 10:59 PM on April 15 [1 favorite]
However, The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax was made into two movies, Mrs. Pollifax-Spy in 1970 --so an oldie starring Rosalind Russell, if you're like older movies. It was remade in 1999 with Angela Lansbury as The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax in a made-for-television version .
posted by BlueHorse at 10:59 PM on April 15 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: BlueHorse, I read the first Mrs. Pollifax book and quite enjoyed it! Didn’t realize there were movies.
I just finished watching Season 1 of The Tourist and enjoyed it immensely. The whole show is good, but as the webmistress said in her comment above, Danielle MacDonald as Helen in particular is fabulous, so thank you for recommending that! Can’t wait to watch the second season.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 12:23 AM on April 16
I just finished watching Season 1 of The Tourist and enjoyed it immensely. The whole show is good, but as the webmistress said in her comment above, Danielle MacDonald as Helen in particular is fabulous, so thank you for recommending that! Can’t wait to watch the second season.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 12:23 AM on April 16
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posted by miles1972 at 9:20 AM on April 13 [1 favorite]