Melissa McCarthy: Critic Rex Reed was ‘swimming in so much hate’

Melissa McCarthy has finally responded to a scathing review of her acting and body image from New York Observer film critic Rex Reed.

The film critic trashed the “Identity Thief� star in April in his review of the zany comedy that costars Jason Bateman as a victim of McCarthy’s felonious identity-stealing con artist.

Reed described the Emmy Award-winning “Mike & Molly� star as “cacophonous,� “tractor-sized,� a “humongous creep� and a “hippo� in the review.

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“Melissa McCarthy is a gimmick comedian who has devoted her short career to being obese and obnoxious with equal success,� Reed wrote. “Poor Jason Bateman. How did an actor so charming, talented, attractive and versatile get stuck in so much dreck?�

Fans and readers went on to pan Reed for his harsh criticism, and the film turned out to be a surprise box-office success.

McCarthy did not immediately respond to the critic’s take until a recent interview with the New York Times leading to her buddy-cop comedy “The Heat,� costarring Oscar winner Sandra Bullock.

The 42-year-old “Bridesmaids� star had been effervescent as usual until interviewer David Itzkoff asked her about the infamous review.

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“Really?� she said her reaction was at the time, “Why would someone OK that?�

The Groundlings comedy troupe alum has spoken out before about her weight but said she was trying to be a positive example to her children with actor Ben Falcone — Vivian, 6, and Georgette, 3 — in “a strange epidemic of body image and body dysmorphia.�

“I felt really bad for someone who is swimming in so much hate,� she said of Reed, though not naming him. “I just thought, that’s someone who’s in a really bad spot, and I am in such a happy spot. I laugh my head off every day with my husband and my kids who are mooning me and singing me songs.�

“It may have crushed me� if the review came when she was 20, she added. But now, she said articles like that “just add to all those younger girls, that are not in a place in their life where they can say, ‘That doesn’t reflect on me.’

“That makes it more true. It means you don’t actually look good enough.�

Her answer was then interrupted by the restaurant’s fire alarm, Itzkoff said.

It’s too bad, because inquiring minds would still like to know more ...

“The Heat� hits theaters June 28 and has already been well received at early screenings, potentially poising the comedy to be liked by critics and perform well at the box office.

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