Melissa McCarthy Heads Back to College in ‘Life of the Party’ Trailer (Video)
Gillian Jacobs, Maya Rudolph and Julie Bowen also star in the comedy
Beatrice Verhoeven | February 5, 2018 @ 10:27 AM
Last Updated: February 5, 2018 @ 3:49 PM
Audiences are in for a wild ride as Melissa McCarthy goes back to college to get her degree in the trailer for “Life of the Party.” (Yeah, you heard her right. She referred to her own “Va-Google” in that last part.)
After Deanna’s (McCarthy) husband unexpectedly leaves her, she decides to go back to school to get the degree she never got.
“I don’t regret staying home and being your mom,” she tells her kids in the trailer, “but I regret not getting my degree. I’ll see you around the quad!”
Deanna has no problem fitting in with the help of her daughter, and also has a risqué encounter with a stranger in the school’s library.
“Life of the Party” is directed by McCarthy’s husband Ben Falcone, who also wrote the film along with McCarthy. Gillian Jacobs, Maya Rudolph, Julie Bowen, Jacki Weaver and Matt Walsh also star in the film.
The New Line production will hit theaters on May 11. McCarthy will also next star in “The Happy Murders” and “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” in which she will star as celebrity forger Lee Israel.
Watch the trailer above.
The Evolution of Melissa McCarthy, From 'Gilmore Girls' to 'Ghostbusters' (Photos)
The actress has come a long way since her days playing Sookie
"Go" (1999)
McCarthy made her feature film debut with a supporting role in "Go," directed by Doug Liman.
Columbia
"Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle" (2000) The actress had a small role as Doris, a woman flirting with Jimmy Bosley at the crime scene.
Columbia
"Gilmore Girls" (2000-2007)
McCarthy was cast as Sookie St. James, the best friend of Lorelai Gilmore, in the WB television series. The series ended in 2007, and McCarthy was not asked to return for the reboot announced in February.
"Curb Your Enthusiasm" (2004) McCarthy played a saleswoman in an episode titled "The Surrogate," in which Larry David gets a heart monitor and uses the device to get out of uncomfortable situations.
HBO
In 2005, McCarthy married Ben Falcone, fellow actor and future "Bridesmaids" co-star (seen here at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival).
"The Back-Up Plan" (2010) The rom-com starred Jennifer Lopez and Alex O'Loughlin in the leads, but McCarthy starred as a midwife named Carol.
CBS Films
"Mike & Molly" (2010-2015) "Mike & Molly" premiered on CBS in 2010 and starred McCarthy and Billy Gardell as a couple who fall in love. The show was cancelled in January 2016.
McCarthy even earned an Oscar nomination for her role in "Bridesmaids," and presented at the 2012 ceremony with co-star Rose Byrne.
Getty Images
"This Is 40" (2012)
With Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann in the leads of Judd Apatow's comedy, McCarthy played a kid's mom who gets in a verbal argument with Rudd's character, Pete, at school.
Universal
"Identity Thief" (2013)
The film was a surprise hit at the box office, debuting to $34.5 million and grossing $134.5 million although it received terrible reviews. Jason Bateman starred in the film about a man getting his identity stolen by a woman.
Universal
"The Heat" (2013)
Directed by Paul Feig, McCarthy teamed up with Sandra Bullock to take down a mobster. The film grossed $230 million globally from a $43 million budget.
Fox
"Tammy" (2014)
The film, which received mixed reviews, had McCarthy in the role of a recently-unemployed woman who goes on a road trip with her alcoholic grandmother. The film made $84.5 million domestically.
McCarthy stars as a disgraced industry titan who goes to prison for insider trading. She then tries to redeem herself by starting a new empire with brownies.