I think, in my opinion, it is incredibly difficult to make a spy comedy. But, I think, Spy, Get Smart, The Man from UNCLE, Spy Kids and True Lies achieve that combination of action and comedy into different directions. So, I had some hope for this movie but the other half was apprehension towards my anticipation for this film based on the bad marketing of this film because I did not find the trailers funny. They felt like they were parodies of the Bad Moms movies after leaving motherhood behind for the force. So, I like the two actresses and they both individually throw so much energy into the film that the overall result is that the movie runs out of steam and story to care about the characters and the comedy.
Audrey Stockman (Mila Kunis) is celebrating her 30th birthday and is given a surprise party by her co-workers, hosted by her best friend, Morgan Freeman (Kate McKinnon, I know, but it's her real name in the movie). However, Audrey has been dumped her ex-boyfriend, Drew Thayer (Justin Theroux). But, later, Audrey gets a phone call from Drew after he has been ignoring her texts, but he does not answer when he picks up. Morgan takes Audrey's phone and texts Drew that he will burn his stuff, which they do.
While working at the grocery store, Audrey is approached by Sebastian Henshaw (Sam Heughan), revealed to be an agent. He and his partner, Duffer (Hasan Minhaj) inform her that Drew is a CIA agent. She tells them about the phone call but she did not answer. After Audrey ran to Morgan, Drew makes an appearance and tries to explain himself. But, a sniper attacks their home and as they are getting Drew gives Audrey the second place trophy, containing that something very important wanted by an organization called Highland so they need to go to Vienna to deliver to someone with a codename called Verne.
The opening scenes surrounding Kunis' and McKinnon's characters being introduced and witnessing their friendship are the best moments as director Susanna Fogel could have had a potential, winning comedy with them just being cast and exchanging some humorous lines. However, when you cast actresses with comedic talent, it does not define as a success as you do not have a good script to support them. The story felt so generic taken from some other better spy films and it is basically reliant on the chemistry between Kunis and McKinnon, which does not fully work.
Even though she had a decent individual performance, I felt like Kunis did not know what she was doing in the movie or why she is committed to her character's actions. This movie is too good for Kunis. I have always liked McKinnon as she is a revelation in Saturday Night Live. I mean I felt like she was in another movie in the 2016 version of the terrible Ghostbusters, the only great performance in the more disappointing Rough Night. This is her best performance to date so far as I could have easily given a pass just because of her presence but it's like veteran comedian performing stand-up and then once he/she leaves, the other hour and a half is boring. She is a delight and hopefully, there is a director out there who can use with the best of her abilities in a better movie.
Speaking of the time length, I felt this movie was overlong and did not need to be as the bloody violence overwhelmed the comedic aspect as well as the story did not serve its interest at being entertaining, but routine and boring. It felt like going into a CIA meeting and yawning at the espionage stories going on at the meeting. Plus, the movie's narrative twist is so predictable that it entirely serves the clever title but with not much satisfaction. The humor is executed well but drags into a routine, generic spy film that is neither suspenseful or as funny with Kunis and McKinnon as a duo. The whole experience felt laborious. What a shame.
**
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