Best Double-Act: Sandra Bullock & Melissa McCarthy - The Heat
While there's no doubt that the plot of Paul Feig's summer hit is as by-the-numbers as they come, the final product rises above mediocrity solely thanks to the chemistry between the two female leads. There's a reason that the buddy-cop genre is one of the most popular in Hollywood, and these movies usually sink or swim based on the dynamic between the main actors, or in this case actresses. Despite a predictable narrative that hits all the bases of genre, the material is elevated by hugely enjoyable performances from both. With both stars staying firmly (and safely) in their wheelhouse character-wise, the dichotomy between the uptight federal agent and the brash city cop is a well-worn cliche, yet the verbal and physical sparring between Bullock and McCarthy is often hilarious and always entertaining at the very least. Audiences clearly agreed, as The Heat grossed almost $230m worldwide on a budget of $43m, cementing the reputation of its two leads as arguably the most bankable females in Hollywood. Runner-Up: Robert Downey Jr. & Don Cheadle - Iron Man 3 Despite being the follow-up to the third-biggest movie in history and the opening chapter of Marvel's Phase 2, Iron Man 3 still managed to retain some of the hallmarks of co-writer/director Shane Black's CV; a meandering voiceover, Christmas iconography and most importantly some sparkling interplay from the two male leads. Finally giving Don Cheadle something important to do in an Iron Man movie, the banter between Tony Stark and Rhodey sits comfortably with the director's previous buddy-cop creations, despite PG-13 limitations. My only problem is that there wasn't enough of it. I'd quite happily watch a movie with these two going on adventures that doesn't feature a single suit of flying metal armor.
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