Oh, Yay! Yes I LOVE The Heat, way more than Bridesmaids, for all the reasons you mentioned. I've watched it more times than I can count while it's been available with my HBO on-demand, and I'm gonna watch it again. I just laugh my ass off every time. The dialogue/writing, the unapologetic characters, the dysfunctional huge family, the way they're better together than separately, the budding friendship based on (grudging) development of mutual respect... and Melissa McCarthy's fearlessness in where she takes her character (plus it feels like there might have been a fair amount of improvising on her part, tho' I'm not sure) -- it's just awesome. I'm so glad you saw it and loved it, too.