Mr. and Mrs. Smith

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The wait is over and Mr. and Mrs. Smith is now in theaters. Perhaps you know it better as that little movie with Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and all the ridiculous media attention attached. Underneath all the rumors of the stars cozying up to one another there actually is a film albeit not a stellar one. However if you are curious to see if Brad and Angelina have chemistry (they do in bunches), can throw common sense to the wind, and watch stuff explode, then you may just enjoy yourself in this over the top action comedy whose nonsensical story is reminiscent of an episode of the cartoon Looney Tunes but not as fun.

The film opens with John Smith (Brad Pitt) and Jane Smith (Angelina Jolie) sitting in a therapy session discussing how their marriage has fallen into a rut. This is humorous more so if one has an inkling of the premise to the movie, in which a married couple is unaware that they are both assassins and through a course of events they will be forced to off one another. That is the movie in a nutshell. Throw in some bombs, bullets, occasional comedy, and sexy actors looking sexy, and there you go.

True Lies starred Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis as a married couple where Arnold was an undercover agent and Curtis had no idea what he did. Somehow that story is more plausible because it is hard to picture Arnold as anything other than an action hero for that is his pedigree. You would never believe him as a teacher (Kindergarten Cop) or even more bizarre as say governor (California). Anyway True Lies works as an entertaining popcorn movie. Trying to have both members of a relationship being clueless about one another's deadly profession is a bit too much to ask even if one possesses a large imagination. Therefore from the beginning as moviegoers we are in a precarious situation. By putting all logic to the side there just isn't enough intrigue to keep you interested in seeing Pitt and Jolie scuffle for the run of the film knowing that they will rekindle their spark because that is what always happens.

The action does not seem to be anything new as we've seen this combination of blasts in the past. Director Doug Liman uses a lot of handheld shots and slows or speeds up scenes. I don't understand why his more recent films have been action extravaganzas such as The Bourne Identityand now this, where his skill is better facilitated in independent fare such as the fun loving Swingers and hyperkinetic Go. Perhaps he wants to work with stars in the Hollywood system which is understandable as he did do a solid job with Matt Damon in The Bourne

Identity. Then again he had a better story to work with. The talent is definitely there but it looks like Mr. and Mrs. Smithsimply did not have anywhere to go. It is entertaining to see Pitt and Jolie fight especially in the hand to hand combat scenes where Jolie truly holds her own, but that can only last for so long. A lot of the action reminded me of Looney Tunes cartoons where Wile E. Coyote wants to kill Road Runner with a variety of anvils, dynamite, and Acme products. The scenes are that over the top with missile launchers and an assortment of other heavy artillery aimed at one another.

The comedy navigates a fine line between funny and awfully cheesy with Vince Vaughn as Eddie, its saving grace. Vaughn basically plays his normal sarcastic character but one who has hit rock bottom and is living with mom. His lines and scenes bring honest laughs to the movie. Acting is not a huge priority in a movie like this, but Pitt and Jolie are able to make the action look real enough and when their lines aren't too corny they deliver them nicely. A lot of the dialogue has them sweet talking in between explosions.

Do they sizzle together? Can they rekindle their marriage? It's interesting to watch the movie wondering if you can see their supposed lust for one another right there on the big screen. There is great chemistry between Pitt and Jolie; you can tell that they hit it off. But aren't they actors and sexy people on top of that? You be the judge.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith ends up being an unbelievable action movie whose story painted it in a corner from the beginning. That leaves us watching two undoubtedly attractive people running around shooting at each other while trying to save their marriage. Entire media distractions aside the film's biggest problem is not the rumormongers but rather the weak story that loses steam the further along we go.

Movie Grade: C

About the Movie

“Mr. and Mrs. Smith” – A sexy, action-packed thrill ride about a bored married couple who discover that they are enemy assassins. John and Jane Smith are an ordinary suburban couple with an ordinary, lifeless suburban marriage. But each of them has a secret — they are actually both legendary assassins working for competing organizations. When the truth comes out, John and Jane end up in each other’s cross-hairs.