Movie Review: 'The Spy Who Dumped Me"

Let’s say you are a creative person who likes to cook and wants to create an original, very special dish – something that’s fresh and new. Where and how do you begin? First off you might look at what has been done before, what recipes have been successful, what ingredients were used and how were they combined. Then you take all these varied elements, add your own special touch and voilà, you have the exciting new dish you sought.

Let’s say you are Susanna Fogel (director) and want to make an original international spy film with a comic twist. Research the Bourne Identity, James Bond 007 and Mission Impossible franchises and use what has made them successful – car crashes, motorcycle chases, double or triple agents, multiple spy/government agencies, love interests, lots of hand-to-hand combat, gun fights and loads of international destinations and languages. Then you select just the right ingredients, blend them together and voilà, you have The Spy Who Dumped Me (think 007 – The Spy Who Loved Me).

Audrey (Mila Kunis) and Morgan (Kate McKinnon) are best buddies. When Audrey is dumped by her boyfriend Drew (Justin Theroux), who does she turn to? – Morgan of course. Quite by accident Audrey discovers Drew’s true line of work and is unwillingly drawn, kicking and screaming, into his sinister world of international espionage and intrigue. His world leads the two women to Europe – Audrey, kicking and screaming, Morgan screaming with delight.

Once is Europe the two women find more intrigue than they every could have imagined – Audrey still reluctant, Morgan still begging for more! As the two ramble, scramble and bungle through Europe, the web of intrigue spreads wider and wider as the two become more deeply involved. Enter Sebastian (Sam Heughan). Is he there to save them or murder them? Is the momentary look he and Audrey share one of puzzlement, hostility or desire? Only time will tell.

With the resounding success of The Spy Who Dumped Me, one wonders if Ms. Fogel might be researching any intergalactic space series such as Star Wars or Star Trek, for successful recipes to use in a delicious new film where she will of course add her own unique comic touch. It’s easy to imagine Morgan gleefully guiding a spaceship at sonic speeds through outer space with Audrey beside her in the shotgun seat – kicking and screaming. Let’s hope there is a “lift off” in the near future.

Directed by Susanna Fogel with previous credits of “Life Partners” and “Joni & Susanna,” this “should see” film runs 116 minutes.

johan@beachcomber.news