The Spy Who Dumped Me: A Review

By Darlene Donloe

Kate McKinnon is hilarious.

A standout on Saturday Night Live, Emmy® Award-winner McKinnon spreads her comedic wings in the comedy, The Spy Who Dumped Me, out in theaters nationwide Friday, Aug. 3.

Thank goodness McKinnon is in the film because she is the funny that holds this raucous romp together. Her delivery of one-liners and short phrases, mixed with antics and her classic facial expressions are brilliant.

She joins forces with Mila Kunis in this female-driven escapade through Europe.

Kate McKinnon and Mila Kunis

Here’s what happens.

The movie opens with Justin Theroux (Drew) running, jumping and fighting off spies as he makes his way through Lithuania.

Cut to Kate McKinnon (Morgan) and Mila Kunis (Audrey) bemoaning Audrey’s breakup with Drew, who apparently “Dumped” her via text.

Next frame, we see Drew coming through Audrey’s window to retrieve some of his belongings, one of which is a trophy that is at the center of major spy caper.

Of course, you can see the ending coming a continent away. There are so many holes in this film. So many moments that don’t make sense – or simply aren’t plausible, but it really doesn’t matter.

Just go along for the ride – because there are a lot of laughs – complements of McKinnon.  She and Kunis have a natural chemistry on film.

Justin Theroux and Mila Kunis

It’s great to see two women at the center of an action-packed spy caper that makes its way through Los Angeles, Budapest, Vienna, Prague, Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, Moscow, and Tokyo.

McKinnon steals every scene she’s in (there are very few in which she doesn’t appear).

Audrey and Morgan, two best friends, embark on an action-packed international adventure after they discover that Drew (Justin Theroux), who recently dumped Audrey via text, is actually a spy.

Hasan Minhaj and Sam Heughan

When something happens to Drew, both Audrey and Morgan do what any normal BFFs would do, they go to Europe to deliver a package to an operative Drew that was supposed to meet.  Of course, chaos ensues.

They are met by other bad guys and gals who are trying to kill them in order to get the package.

What follows are gun battles, car chases, and daring escapes.

It’s interesting how this comedy has several incredibly violent scenes. I mean, really violent scenes. The film ends up somewhere between Secrets, Jason Bourne, James Bond and probably a segment of I Love Lucy.  It’s part road trip, part BFF film, and spy movie.

This movie is all about the women. That being said, the men deserve a level of applause. Theroux, Sam Heughan (Outlander) who plays a spy and Hasan Minhaj (The Daily Show), who also plays a spy – all turn in respectable performances.

Gillian Anderson

Shout out to Gillian Anderson, whose resting bitch face as Wendy, a calculating spy boss, is dazzling and comical. Also shout out to Lolly Adefope, who is hysterical as a sickening friend/enemy who throws much shade Audrey’s way.

The Spy Who Dumped Me stars Kunis, McKinnon, Theroux,  Heughan, Anderson,  Minhaj, Ivanna Sakhno, Jane Curtin, Adefope and Paul Reiser.

On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likable), O (oh, yeah) and E (excellent), The Spy Who Dumped Me gets an O (oh, yeah).