Melissa McCarthy, Tiffany Haddish, & Elizabeth Moss's New Crime Drama 'The Kitchen' Is No Laughing Matter!

The cool thing about comic book movies these days is that, just when you thought you had seen everything, Boom! Something brand new and enticing pops up out of nowhere. And I'll be honest, I didn't see this one coming.

There is no question that DC Comics won the Female Superhero race, what with having Wonder Woman cross the finish line while killing it at the box office back in 2017, a solid 2 years before their rival touched down with Captain Marvel. So, it's no surprise that the latest adaptation to make its way from the comic book shop shelf to the big screen would star Melissa McCarthy, Elizabeth Moss, and Tiffany Haddish. But what is a surprise is the story they are trying to tell. So before everyone goes thinking this will be some Supergirl or Catwoman comedic hijinks film, you have got another think coming. This motion picture gets its source material from DC's mature label Vertigo Comics, specifically for the series titled The Kitchen. This gritty crime drama is no laughing matter, and from the looks of the trailer, it feels very reminiscent to the likes Goodfellas.

McCarthy's "pretty doesn't matter" line sends shivers down my spine every time I hear it and sounds like it's straight out of a best-selling crime novel. The story here revolves around the wives of New York gangsters in Hell's Kitchen during the 1970s who continue to operate their husbands' rackets after they're locked up in prison. And they will go to the same lengths their fellow criminals will go to ensure they are taken seriously within the ranks fo the underworld. DC's Vertigo has a lot of great titles that could be made into some great movies and TV shows. Here's hoping The Kitchen kicks off its own Cinematic Universe, or in the least paves the way for more silver screen adaptations. This isn't hard to imagine, given just how good the promo looks. And besides, McCarthy, Haddish, and Moss make up the perfect trio to bring the popular Vertigo comic book series, written by Ollie Doyle, that debuted back in 2015, to life on the big screen.

The other thing that is great about this is the fact that it feels like this film is coming together at the right time. Almost like the cinematic planets have aligned or something. For example, McCarthy just made the jump from comedy powerhouse to Academy Award-nominated actress with her memorable performance in Can You Ever Forgive Me?. She definitely silenced any haters that believed she can only do the funny pictures. Moss has gradually, in what I'd call a delightful slow burn affair, risen from supporting player to the point of being a force to be reckoned with in the world of acting. This is very apparent from what viewers have seen in her recent run on "The Handmaids Tale" as well as the new, more aggressive direction her character is taking from the look of the 3rd season's preview. And last but certainly not least, there is Haddish. She has proven time and time again that she has the diverse range needed to succeed, knows how to rake in the box office, can keep pace opposite her two co-stars, and will hopefully show the industry she can play the serious roles just as easily as she can make you fall over laughing until you cry.

I am not sure about everyone else, but I love the idea of a gangster movie with McCarthy as the new Godfather, Moss as the new Al Capone, and Haddish being the new Scarface (minus the facial damage, of course). I may be over-exaggerating, but I know I'm not alone in feeling that whoever decided that these three were the ones to fill these roles deserves a medal, a parade, and a statue. So, it makes perfect sense that the very talented Andrea Berloff, who is famous for writing Oliver Stone's World Trade Center, F. Gary Gray's Straight Outta Compton, and Mel Gibson's Blood Father, would be the one responsible for this greatness. Not only did she make this unbelievable casting a reality, but she also penned the script and is making her feature directorial debut with the tough mafia period piece. And it looks like she's done a solid job from everything we've seen so far. Berloff is bringing audiences a gritty, pulpy approach to this story, and I feel confident in saying that I, as well as many others, cannot wait to see how it all plays out when it finally releases. 

The Kitchen will arrive in theaters on August 9, 2019.