‘The Spy Who Dumped Me’ Blu-Ray Review: Script Doesn’t Do Justice To Mila Kunis & Kate McKinnon’s Talent

The Spy Who Dumped Me is an interesting movie because of how it tried to blend action, comedy, romance and spy drama theatrics together. Director Susanna Fogel and the team behind the film certainly did not lack ambition, but said ambition was undermined by the dissonant nature of these components.

THE SPY WHO DUMPED ME BLU-RAY REVIEW

That ‘70s Show alumna Mila Kunis stars as Audrey, the film’s desultory protagonist. She’s partnered with SNL’s Kate McKinnon, who plays Audrey’s best friend Morgan. McKinnon brings her unique (albeit somewhat overplayed) mannerisms with her, serving as the eccentric opposite to Kunis’ straight woman. It’s a pairing that has potential, and the two played off each other well with the material they were given.

Disappointingly, however, both actresses are let down by the script, which permeates their dialog with jokes that regularly fall flat. An early scene in the film shows a man Morgan befriended named Victor, whom she’s trying to teach feminism to. Upon entering the room, he mentions feminism and Michelle Obama before announcing, “Okay, I take shower.” The bit doesn’t dissect these topics or elaborate on either character’s perception of them, however; instead, it effectively just lists them, hoping that hearing those words will inspire laughter. This unimaginative writing plagues The Spy Who Dumped Me as a whole, save for Audrey’s low-speed car crash and a few other bright moments.

Moreover, the weak comedic writing is incongruously complemented by C-tier action sequences. The film’s premise naturally calls for some violence — we are talking about spies and international espionage — but the emphasis on it incites an uncomfortable tonal clash. While I don’t have an inherit issue with seeing a man impaled by a knife, it feels out of place in what also positions itself as a lighthearted buddy flick. Ultimately, The Spy Who Dumped Me tries to blend the comedy and spy genres together, but it never melds them satisfyingly, nor does it harbor the nuance and conviction to independently pull either off.

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The Blu-ray disc comes with several extras, offering insight into the creative process behind the film. There are three bonus features, totaling around 27 minutes of behind-the-scenes material. Also included are 11 deleted scenes and a 6-minute blooper reel.