A low-brow comedy that works

Film review: The Spy Who Dumped Me

MANILA, Philippines — The Spy Who Dumped Me is the kind of film that if approached without much expectation, turns into a pleasant, enjoyable, two-hour diversion. When I first heard about the film, and saw it starred Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon, I was immediately thinking of it as a feminist buddy version of 2015’s Spy, which starred Melissa McCarthy and was directed by Paul Feig. And let’s face it, Spy was a brilliant, self-aware spoof of the spy film genre, even winning the Empire Award for Best Comedy that year. 

Director Susanna Fogel, who co-wrote the screenplay with Dan Iserson, does take a similar fish-out-of-water theme; with Audrey (Mila) portraying a LA organic store cashier who meets the man of her dreams Drew (Justin Theroux) in a bar. He has disappeared for a year, and it turns out that when he reappears, he’s being chased by assassins, as he also operates as an undercover CIA operative. Begging Audrey to take some vital information to his contact in Vienna, Audrey and best friend Morgan (Kate) decide to make it the European adventure they’ve always dreamed of taking. 

The action comedy gives us two Jane Bonds who perpetually get away with no training or expertise. I was surprised by how Susanna wanted to emphasize the action over the comedy. She can direct these action scenes competently, but I was only wishing they had paid more attention to character development and interaction. Much of the comedy seems to rely purely on letting Kate loose — and while she delivers and makes the most of the opportunities given her, you wonder if more structure and control could have improved the film. It’s cliché after cliché; and after Mila showed in Bad Moms that she can hold her own in the comedy department, she’s reduced to merely playing “straight man” to Kate throughout this film. 

There’s a suspicious, but charming British agent named Sebastian (Sam Heughan) to help keep Audrey in focus during the film, but it is Morgan who’s given the license to produce the laughs. If Audrey is the fish out of water, Morgan is water itself, free flowing with the jokes and non sequiturs, and adapting to any situation with bravado and attitude. And yet, one sign that they haven’t really put enough effort in the comedy is how when introduced, Morgan states her family name is Freeman, but no follow-up ever happens. How you couldn’t create one good gag, or even have a running joke, about that name, is beyond me. 

Fortunately for us, Kate has her usual “A” game on for this film. Giving us weird, hilarious, sarcastic, mock-sincere, in scene after scene, she emerges as the spark plug of the film. And you will love her lines and facial expressions when she meets the female head of British Intelligence. 

The movie is low-brow comedy that works in places, and Kate is a hoot.

The Spy Who Dumped Me is now showing in theaters.