Life of the Party is not an ironic title: Deanna literally ends up as the authentically celebrated life of the party at Decatur U. And yes, absolutely, ...

The life story, then, is not the most promising of forms for an intellectual–not only because it is allergic to ideas but because intellectuals are not renowned for their enthralling lives.

But Life of the Party, like The Boss and Tammy, was directed by Ben Falcone, McCarthy’s husband, and co-written by him and McCarthy.

McCarthy is the life of any party she stars in, but something’s wrong when she’s working overtime, with the seams showing, to hide how little else there is to enjoy. Subscribe to Breaking News.

Film Review: ‘Life of the Party’ Belly up to the frat bar. Melissa McCarthy's fun wish-fulfillment comedy about a back-to-school divorcée is as sweet as a lemon drop shot.