…I decided to earn my Outlander fandom points and saw The Spy Who Dumped Me.
If you’re wondering what in the Murgatroyd does that film have in common with Outlander, clearly you’ve steered clear of the show’s Twitter, ignored the evites to join “the clan” for fan screenings, and have no clue that Sam Heughan discovered how to use Instagram’s story feature.
To be honest, my expectations for this film were low. Although I love a good spy comedy, like…Spy, I feared that all the best parts of the film were saved just for the trailer. Then there was the title, which sounded like a horrible free erotica ebook, where the phrase, “He infiltrated my asset with his deep search,” would be found. Alas, my love for Kate McKinnon, my desire to see Sam Heughan in a three piece suit, and my vow to support more female driven productions won out and I purchased a ticket to see The Spy Who Dumped Me.
I’ll admit it right now: I really liked this film.
Was it a cinematic masterpiece? Um, no. Were there some parts that were slower than others? Sure. Was it realistic? Seriously?! Did it give you a brief respite from reality and put a smile on your face? Absolutely.
Five Reasons You Need to See The Spy Who Dumped Me:
1. Cause She’s My Best Friend
Picture a film starring more than one female lead. Typically, there’s a friendship or relationship that’s integral to the plot. At some point, there’s friction between the women – perhaps a man comes between them or one friend questions the future of the relationship – and they “break up” for five minutes, going their separate ways but are completely miserable without that person. Eventually, they reconcile and their friendship is stronger than ever.
The Spy Who Dumped Me is the breath of fresh air from this trope.
Image Courtesy of Lionsgate
This film has one of the best love stories I’ve seen in quite a while, but it doesn’t involve Justin Theroux or even Sam Heughan The heart of this movie is the friendship between Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon’s characters, Audrey and Morgan. Not once do these two characters fight, call each other names, or leave one another stranded in some foreign city. They support each other, fight together, and make you grateful for the best friends that will always have your back, even in the most asinine conditions.
2. Kate McKinnon
Honestly, do I need to go into the comedic brilliance of Kate McKinnon? She’s a national treasure who must be protected at all costs.
Image Courtesy of Lionsgate
She steals each SNL skit she appears in and made you wish you had your own Holtzmann in your life after you saw the remake of Ghostbusters. In TSWDM, her comedic timing is beyond perfection, while her delivery of one liners has you recalling them to your best friends in text messages followed by your bitmoji doubled over with laughter. Can we please have more Kate McKinnon in this world?
3. Women Who Kick Ass
Although the title makes you believe that Mila Kunis’s Audrey is pining over her broken relationship, this is far from the rest of the film. Audrey and Morgan think quickly and defend themselves without hesitation. They don’t wait for Sam Heughan dressed in a Member’s Only jacket and a gun in his pocket to save them. They kick – and in some moments, kill – ass and they are not alone. One of the most powerful assassins that’s chasing them is a woman, who clearly would make any Russian olympian piss out their steroids in fear.
The best? Gillian Anderson as the head of the intelligence agency, who I wished had more screen time and reminded me that I need to finish the last season of The Fall.
4. Europe
Image Courtesy of Lionsgate
If you see this film, and don’t have a burning desire to visit Europe, especially Austria and Prague, with your best friend, all hope is lost for you and humanity. Way to go.
5. Fine, let’s talk about Sam Heughan
When I started seeing Sam’s promotional juggernaut for this film, I was taking bets that his total actual screen time was anywhere between fifteen minutes to cafe patron extra #4. Thank God I was seriously wrong.
Sam’s role as MI-5 agent Sebastian Henshaw appeared in a good 90% of the film, and yes, he was convincing as a spy. Is his performance Academy award worthy? Not at all, so delete those #Oscar4Sam tweets you saved in your drafts for next year.
Whether he was donning a tuxedo or rocking Barbour’s fall 2018 menswear line, Sam Heughan looked ah-mazing in this film.
His hair was on point (hallelujah), his English (he’s not Scottish in the film) accent made you want to go home and write fan fiction erotica about British spies, and his side-eyed glances were in full effect. Essentially this was your sexual fantasy about Sam Heughan as a secret agent come to life, and a necessary reminder that your loins can be on fire.
