THE SPY WHO DUMPED ME

Director
Susanna Fogel
(LIFE PARTNERS)

Stars
Mila Kunis, Kate McKinnon, Justin Theroux, Sam Heughan, Hasan Minhaj, Ivanna Sakhno and Gillian Anderson

Hands up those of you who have been dumped by a partner via text message? Well, this is exactly the predicament that 30 year-old Audrey (Mila Kunis) finds herself dealing with after her relationship with Drew (Justin Theroux) arrives at its abrupt end. As Audrey and her lifelong best friend, Morgan (Kate McKinnon) ponder over the possible reasons for the break-up, they’ll soon begin to gain more answers than they bargained after discovering that Drew is actually a CIA spy. When a desired item that several assassins are in pursuit of falls into the possession of Audrey and Morgan, the two best friends immediately find themselves caught in the crossfire.

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Hands up those of you who have an affinity for this amalgamation of genre? Particularly when the spy action component of the picture is as savagely violent and intrusive upon the mundane world as it is here. Well then, you too will likely be receiving more than what you bargained for watching the largely entertaining action/comedy, THE SPY WHO DUMPED ME.

A fast-paced first half showcases the best of what this film has to offer, which begins with the ace pairing of Kate McKinnon and Mila Kunis in the lead roles. Requiring very little male assistance throughout to kick some nasty villainous arse, these two actresses manage their combat scenes just as sharply as the plentiful supply of witty dialogue and gags they deliver. Especially Kate McKinnon. Looking back over her resume, it’s fair to say that this is her best lead performance in a mainstream comedy film to date. Even characters who occupy a minor role in THE SPY WHO DUMPED ME are conceived and written with enough intent that makes for a worthwhile contribution. Whether it be on the comedic side (such as Morgan’s unorthodox parents) or over onto the side of the baddies (the acrobatic assassin menacingly played by Ivanna Sakhno). During the second half of the film, where audiences are told what the desired item is that the girls are in possession of, the pacing and quality of the film both slightly drop off. The unraveling and conclusion of the film’s primary plot doesn’t offer anything new to the genre and laughter is evoked less frequently.

THE SPY WHO DUMPED ME doesn’t possess the style of a KINGSMAN film, isn’t pushing the boundaries for humour of the DEADPOOL duo and never features the overall completeness of the first KICK ASS movie, but it is aggressive, brash and crude enough to sustain its near two-hour length.

3 stars

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Viewer Discretion
MA15+ (Strong violence and brief nudity)