The Spy Who Dumped Me

WHAT IT'S ABOUT:

Audrey and Morgan, two 30-year-old best friends in Los Angeles, are thrust unexpectedly into an international conspiracy when Audrey’s ex-boyfriend shows up at their apartment with a team of deadly assassins on his trail. Surprising even themselves, the two jump into action, on the run throughout Europe from assassins and a suspicious-but-charming British agent, as they hatch a plan to save the world.

WHAT WE THOUGHT:

The Spy Who Dumped Me is one of those action-comedies that effortlessly make you forget about the real world for a little under two hours.

It’s a thrilling ride that I truly enjoyed. Where some ‘funny’ movies can feel laboured in parts this one glides from dirty joke to searing social commentary and fast accelerating action.  

Starting from the impeccable casting of the two leads Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon who play Audrey and Morgan respectively. The pair bounce off each other like a mix of Mel Gibson and Danny Glover in Lethal Weapon and Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy in 48 Hours.

Another on-screen pair their chemistry reminded me of was Ryan Gosling and Russel Crowe in the brilliant film, Nice Guys. 

The duo is expertly aided by the wacky and fun script that has a great rhythm to it. The cherry on top is Susanna Fogel’s direction (not to mention she also wrote the script). What I found clever about Fogel’s direction is that she lets the audience get comfortable, giving them a few moments of thrilling action, interspersed between hilarious buddy comedy setups and then steadily pushes the tempo to a tension filled and outlandish climax. It’s a comedic spy-filled roller-coaster of the finest order. 

What I loved most about this movie is that it steers clear of a lot the tropes that a lot of recent blockbusters with women as leads often do. They don’t fight throughout only to reunite at the end of the film, they aren’t trying to pull each other down to achieve a goal and they most certainly aren’t in a love triangle about a man. 

This refreshing and important detail is something that Fogel elaborated on in an interview with Vulture saying: “In a sort of Bechdel test way, I think people have trouble knowing what to do with women in movies when they’re not in a love story.” 

Another detail that I really enjoyed is how relatable the lead protagonists are. I feel like I know a Morgan in my life and I feel like I have been Audrey more than once in my life. Obviously, minus all the violence, spying and butt kicking. That’s another thing that bears mentioning, you don’t like violence mixed with rapid fire dirty jokes and action then this movie isn’t for you.

I think this is the most fun I’ve had at cinema in several months and I think it’s something that most people who enjoy spy movies, buddy comedies and everything in between will enjoy.