Melissa McCarthy brings her brand of humor in this remake of the BBC-TV movie Bernard and the Genie.

Bernard works at an auction house in New York City and the holidays are approaching. However, his constant work has caused a massive rift with his wife and daughter. When he misses his daughter’s birthday, it’s the final straw as his wife decides it’s best they separate. Upset and heartbroken at the news, Bernard comes across a mysterious jewelry box. When he rubs a spot off the box, he is in for a major surprise.

Enter Flora, a genie who lived in the box for over two millennia. When Bernard finds himself skeptical, Flora proves her powers and gives Bernard unlimited wishes. Bernard decides to find a way to get his family back and with Flora’s help, they go about it. At the same time, Bernard decides to show Flora what life is like in the modern day. Despite some major bumps in the road, Bernard and Flora forge a friendship. When Bernard bonds with his daughter again, things start to get better. However, can he win his wife back in time for Christmas?

1991’s Bernard and the Genie was considered a fun film written by Richard Curtis, the co-creator of the iconic Mr. Bean. Curtis returns to write this remake of the film, set in New York City and brings a touch of his native England with the casting of Paapa Essiedu and Alan Cumming, the latter who played Bernard in the original film and here plays Bernard’s greedy boss Flaxman. 

However, it is Melissa McCarthy who once again shines thanks to her bringing her brand of humor in the role of the titular genie, Flora. Curtis really understood McCarthy’s style of comedy and incorporates it well. As she gets to learn about life in the modern world, we see Flora having an obsession on a certain Hollywood actor who can achieve the “impossible” as well as have a bit of a crush on Bernard’s doorman, played by Marc Maron. 

It is great to see Essiedu and McCarthy bond over the course of the film as she is willing to help him get his wife and daughter back and in return, he teaches her about life today. This brings a sense of sentiment and shows that Bernard may look like he may be taking advantage of Flora, but she also has good intentions (despite swapping the Mona Lisa for a Messi jersey that leads to their arrest) and Bernard can see that. The third act is a bit emotional and predictable but still is quite emotionally pleasing. 

Genie is a heartwarming tale about an unlikely friendship that leads to something good for both of them. Melissa McCarthy’s style of humor mixed in with Papaa Essiedu’s emotional acting are the driving force of the film. 

WFG RATING: B+

Universal Pictures and Peacock Productions presents a Working Title Films production in association with Linden Productions. Director: Sam Boyd. Producers: Richard Curtis, Eric Fellner, Tim Bevan, and Riva Marker. Writer: Richard Curtis; based on his 1991 screenplay “Bernard and the Genie”. Cinematography: John Guleserian. Editing: Heather Persons.

Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Papaa Essiedu, Marc Maron, Alan Cumming, Deneé Benton, Jordyn McIntosh, Tate Ellington, Luis Guzman, LaChanze, Ellen Cleghorne, Oberon Adjepong, Ego Nwodim, John Reynolds.