The Spy Who Dumped Me

The Spy Who Dumped Me follows best friends Audrey (Mila Kunis) and Kate McKinnon (Morgan) as they’re caught up in an international conspiracy thanks to the former’s CIA operative boyfriend (Justin Theroux’s Drew), with the narrative detailing the offbeat pair’s ongoing efforts at extricating themselves from an increasingly deadly and violent situation. Filmmaker Susanna Fogel does a superb job of immediately drawing the viewer into the proceedings, as The Spy Who Dumped Me kicks off with an unexpectedly engrossing action sequence that fares better than one might’ve anticipated – with the movie, past that point, segueing into an admittedly overlong yet consistently entertaining narrative. It’s clear, ultimately, that the picture benefits substantially from the two stars’ affable work and their palpable chemistry together, while Fogel and David Iserson’s somewhat episodic screenplay is rife with compelling (and frequently funny) set-pieces focused on Audrey and Kate’s bumbling exploits. (There is, for instance, a very amusing bit involving the duo’s clumsy efforts at stealing a car.) It’s a little disappointing to note, then, that The Spy Who Dumped Me‘s second half suffers from a meandering quality that wreaks havoc on the movie’s momentum, and it’s apparent, too, that the climax isn’t quite as effective (and thrilling) as its preceding segments (ie the weird Cirque du Soleil finale is more bizarre than it is exciting). There’s nevertheless no denying that, for the most part, The Spy Who Dumped Me comes off as a better-than-expected contemporary caper, with the obvious decision to eschew improvised shenanigans certainly playing a key role in the film’s success.

*** out of ****