âThe Spy Who Dumped Meâ is entertaining but highly predictable. It isnât a terrible movie, hence the reason the rating I gave it didnât destroy this comedic narrative, but outside of the two leads making you chuckle, there isnât a lot to be thrilled about. Mila Kunis seems to be top billed, but Kate McKinnon definitely steals the show as Audreyâs (Kunisâ) best friend, Morgan, who would do anything to protect her friend… just as McKinnon does anything to make an audience laugh. McKinnon alone is responsible for why the film will have a modestly successful theatrical run because she lives a breathes insanity into unpretentiously deranged characters. Sheâs a treasure. Which leads me to the story.
Audreyâs recent break up with Drew (Theroux) and her being angry at him, gives license to her bestie, Morgan, to determine the worth of Drewâs things that had been left in Audreyâs apartment. Once defined as worthless, Morgan wants to burn his possessions to rid her friend of this slug once and for all. Drew is warned and, as expected, shows up to stop it. This is when the women learn heâs a secret agent. During all of this, we flip back and forth as to who heâs working for and whether heâs a good guy or not. Suddenly, Audrey and Morgan are being followed, dodging bullets and being shoved into vans. Again, itâs unclear as to whether or not Drew is a good guy, a question we are left to ponder until the very end of the film. They learn who Drew is, around the same time they meet the hunky Sebastian, (Heughan), who Audrey canât help but drool over. Drew says heâs a spy; Sebastian says heâs intelligence. Who to believe? It isnât easy so, as Morgan puts it in the film, theyâre going to own their intelligence and figure everything out on their own. Itâs on to Europe to sort out the mess. Theyâre told a lot of people will die if a trophy in their possession isnât at a certain location on time. That wonât happen on their watch.
To make a film an action/comedy, and thatâs what âThe Spy Who Dumped Meâ is billed as you must have fight sequences and car chases and such. Youâll be quite impressed with how well director Susanna Fogel embraced that convention when, after viewing the trailer, it seemed as if the movie originally sold itself as a chick flick of sorts. Leaving the bad digital blood aside, theyâre superbly choreographed, well shot and in beautiful locales, all the things needed to please todayâs action audience. Another highlight for some may be the addition of Gillian Anderson as the head of the British Secret Service. Though it was great to see her in the role of a boss who pulls no punches, it was hardly a stretch for her. Perhaps she took the part to remind us all that sheâs out there to which she does in spades.
I liked the film, but I didnât love it. Having said that, you should see it at a matinee because what works is worth seeing. McKinnon. Anderson. Strong characters and complete insanity. It will work for you as a laid-back, informal summer spy thriller during your easygoing, passive summer weekend.
