The modern academic landscape of safe spaces and microaggression measurement might have given the old premise a good jolt, but Falcone and McCarthy take the easier route of throwing her character into the epic partying of the Greek system.

McCarthy doesn't try to conceal her purpose: she has won her power the hard way and she wants to use it for the greater good. That's part of what makes her the cultural icon she has become, the champion of downtrodden woman of all shapes and sizes.

Melissa McCarthy stars in Life of the Party, which uneasily tries to mix messages about female empowerment and body positivity with cliched jokes about aging.

The comedy consistently works, with McCarthy showing off her versatility as a performer.