‘Life Of The Party’ Trailer: Melissa McCarthy Goes Back To College

One of the all-time best episodes of “The Simpsons” is season five’s “Homer Goes To College.” Of course, the entry sees Homer going to back to school to finally get his degree and pass nuclear physics, and winding up battling the crusty old dean, and getting involved with his sworn enemies — nerds. Now, what if that concept was applied to a live-action movie?

I’m not saying “Life Of The Party” might want to send some royalty cheques to “The Simpsons,” but the concept is identical, with Melissa McCarthy playing a grown woman who heads back to school. The twist? She’ll be sharing classes with her daughter. Here’s the official synopsis:

When her husband suddenly dumps her, longtime dedicated housewife Deanna turns regret into re-set by going back to college…landing in the same class and school as her daughter, who’s not entirely sold on the idea. Plunging headlong into the campus experience, the increasingly outspoken Deanna—now Dee Rock—embraces freedom, fun and frat boys on her own terms, finding her true self in a senior year no one ever expected.

“I really like the idea of showing somebody challenging herself and reinventing herself at my age,” McCarthy told EW. “Because why not?!”

Directed by Ben Falcone, and co-starring Molly Gordon, Gillian Jacobs, Maya Rudolph, Julie Bowen, Matt Walsh, Debby Ryan, Stephen Root, Shannon Purser and Jacki Weaver, “Life Of The Party” opens on May 11th.