The Spy Who Dumped Me (2018)

There's something about SNL cast members. The cast is made up of unique characters, and the actors really know how to play up those characters. This movie is a lot of Kate McKinnon. And if you like Kate McKinnon it is great fun. She makes the film funny and worthwhile. Not all the jokes land, but a good number of them do. It is Kate McKinnon on overload.

The plot is full of holes. Don't expect to get resolution of any of the plot points. I found myself asking why about a lot of things to no answer. What is on the usb? What does he fake his death for? He already had the usb, what did he need to give it to Mila Kunis for? Not only is there no explanation but the movie proceeds knowing it doesn't matter.  Because despite this, it's still a fun time. It's a buddy spy action movie with two leading ladies that kick ass.

Mission Impossible: Fallout (2018)

There are tons of spy movies out there, but Mission Impossible is done extraordinarily well, with some of the most exciting action scenes there are. Tom Cruise is 56 but he is still a real action star.  He runs so fast on camera and he jumps out of planes (that scene is really impressive); he is unstoppable! Simon Pegg and Ving Rhames are hilarious. They're actually my favorite part of the movie. The story has really excellent bits. The first half of the story works, and the second half of the story works, separately. But then the second half of the story makes the first half irrelevant. A few issues with the plot. It revolves around three nuclear weapons. The original story in the first half has an appropriate use of nuclear weapons, but the second half makes use of the nukes in a conventional way, meaning that it is irrelevant that the weapons are nuclearized since ordinary explosives would have done the same trick. It's also kind of insensitive and tasteless to set your nuclear weapons movie in Kashmir, a region known for nearly starting a nuclear war. Finally Rebecca Ferguson and Michelle Monaghan look exactly the same. They could've dyed someone's hair because I did not know they were separate people until they were on screen together. 

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015)

Tom Cruise is the quintessential action star.  In the very first scene, Tom Cruise literally jumps onto a plane and hangs onto it from the outside as it takes off.  And this is just the beginning!  There are chase scenes galore, on foot, on motor bikes, in cars, you name it. There is constant action and non-stop adrenaline to keep this movie going.  There is another formidable action star to complement Cruise's performance.  Rebecca Ferguson kicks ass.  The two of them together are extraordinarily fun to watch.  Fun is the best way to describe this movie.  The plot is easy to follow meaning there are no hindrances to enjoying everything this movie has to offer.

I particularly liked the opera scene, in which a production of Puccini's Turandot is interrupted.  It is beautifully shot at the incredible Vienna State Opera.  I appreciated that motifs from Calaf's aria Nessun Dorma from Turandot reappeared in the score several times amid the famous Mission: Impossible theme.  The best known tenor aria and the best known movie theme all rolled into one.

Spy (2015)

Melissa McCarthy is in fine form in her latest film after a string of subpar films. Her performance reminds us why she is an Emmy winner and Oscar nominee.  She is self deprecating and fully adept at physical comedy.  A spoof on the classic 007-type spy movies, Spy is raucously funny. The audience is constantly reminded that McCarthy does not look like your stereotypical secret agent, and in actuality that is to her benefit as an undercover spy.  McCarthy's performance is only one in a movie full of excellent performances.  Jason Statham turns up his intensity factor to play a satirical version of himself.  British comedian Miranda Hart is hilarious as is Rose Byrne, who puts on a pretentious British accent to play a villain. This is a solid, worthwhile comedy.

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014)

The latest installment in the Jack Ryan series features Chris Pine as the titular spy.  It appears that Pine is the go-to young actor for Hollywood reboots after two films playing Captain Kirk as well.  Quite frankly, Kirk is better.  Keira Knightley's performance is not her best work either.  A far cry from her much anticipated role in the upcoming Begin Again.  She did not seem very comfortable with the American accent.  Kenneth Branagh, on the other hand, nailed his accent and role as the Russian villain (just listen to how he says the word 'hotel').

The plot moves very quickly and as it unravels, it becomes a little ridiculous just how fast the questions are answered.  They go from having nothing to having all of the answers in three minutes.  However, I will give them points for one unusual plot point for a spy movie.  Jack Ryan works in finance and having taken a course this past semester on international macroeconomics, I was able to appreciate that the plot was advanced by Ryan entering the action after noticing financial inconsistencies.