The buddy cop genre is one that has been over-baked with predictable plots, characters and unsatisfying shoot-outs; but when done well, with original material, the result can be satisfying. For a while, The Bad Boys franchise, starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, served as the genre’s golden crux, leading by example of what to do and what not to do with such action heavy story lines.

Then came along Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s 21 Jump Street, starring Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum; the film would go one to be a hit not many saw coming. Two leads, one not known for his hilarious on screen moments, had what it took to push the genre back to the forefront of Hollywood. Paul Feig’s latest contribution to the genre has its own weapons of surprise: the film will star two female leads in a career field dominated by males.

It’s apparent that Feig has the right the tools to create a successful comedy; his understanding of comedic timing and unpredictability was showcased in the hilarious Bridesmaids. Coined as The Hangover for women, the film gave audiences worldwide a different view at how women saw comedy, which, at the time, had only been mastered by the films of Tina Fey (Mean Girls), Nora Ephron (Julie & Julia) , Karen McCulla Lutz (10 Things I Hate About You), Diablo Cody (Juno), and several others.

Is that to say that Feig was the first male director to nail what women saw as funny? Not all. Many of the films listed above, had male directors. Plus, Bridesmaids was penned by Kristen Wiig, so Fieg also had a female perspective behind him.

Feig will shoot for the stars once again with his next film, The Heat, which is penned by Katie Dippold, writer for Parks and Recreation. Not to mention, the film stars Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy. Boys and girls, strap in ’cause we’re in for a wild ride.

Sandra Bullock & Melissa McCarthy… Match Made in Heaven?

There’s nothing unique about the story’s premise, but one could say the same about Bridesmaids, which went on to earn several Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture of the Year, a rare feat for a comedy.

The Heat centers on the pairing of an unlikely team: Sarah Ashburn (Bullock)– a live by the rules, uptight, body conscious, straight-shooting FBI agent — and Shannon Mullin (McCarthy) — a tell it like it is, down to earth, sock ‘em knock ‘em, street-smart detective. At first, the two are at odds, but they soon relish in each other’s strengths and weaknesses, making for several hilarious situations as they team up to fight crime.

Having McCarthy and Bullock star opposite of each other will no doubt make for a sidesplitting comedy, made evident by scenes such as the two interrogating a suspect while holding him upside down, only to later drop him on the hood of a car. Sure the two will bring fans to the theaters, but whether or not the film is a success will depend on Feig’s ability to once again create a hilarious gender-role-reversal that works brilliantly. Bridesmaids proved to many that an all women ensemble can indeed lead a comedy. Let’s hope that with Feig’s direction and Dippold’s script The Heat is another hit.

Stay tuned as there’s sure to be more footage released of Bullock and McCarthy’s mayhem in the upcoming months. The Heat slams into theaters April 15th, 2012.

‘The Heat’ Trailer