Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Vince Vaughn
Directed by: Doug Liman
Written by: Simon Kinberg
“MOM! We’re on high alert here! I could have killed you!”
Apple Pie and Ice Cream.
Batman and Robin.
Lox and Bagels.
Butch and Sundance.
Mr. And Mrs. Smith.
When I first saw the ads for Mr. And Mrs. Smith, the whole thing seemed to me to be a cross between “War of the Roses” and “True Lies”. And since it had Angelina Jolie I had no real intention of watching it.
I am not a Jolie fan; I find her fake British accent a nuisance at best, and at worst just silly. So, it was with some reluctance that I found myself starting to want to watch this thing. Maybe it was Brad Pitt or Vince Vaughn’s mugging and scenery eating in the previews. I figured that would have to be worth a little of putting up with her.
Thank the celluloid gods I gave this a chance. I have not seen a couple burn up the screen like this in quite a while. Plus, Angelina Jolie does not have an accent here. WOW!
The chemistry between the three stars was excellent. Pitt and Jolie are perfect as the married couple that is just not sure how to get through the problems they face in their ‘wedded bliss’.
We first see them in a Marriage Counselor office, and the unseen specialist is trying to get to the bottom of what seems at first an almost insurmountable wall the two of them have built.
John Smith (Pitt) is the typical husband, unsure of exactly how long they have been married. Jane Smith (Jolie) comes across as a cross between Audrey Hepburn and Samantha Stevens, always immaculate and always stylish.
She wants new drapes but says, “If you don’t like them, we can send them back.”
“Great. I don’t like them,”
Jane: “You’ll get used to them.”
Yes, this is a marriage guys; you will make a statement, but your wife will still get her way. It has been going on this way for centuries don’t expect it to change just for you.
Maybe one of the problems is that each of them has to do a lot of travel. And another problem could be the lies. She lies about her parents, her religion. He lies about being married before.
Oh, plus she is a killer for an unnamed International Organization and he is a killer for an unnamed International Organization. And both unnamed International Organizations seem to be competing with each other.
So, when the two of them are sent to the same target by their individual bosses it is only a matter of time before they find out that each of them keeps secrets. And then talk about conflict and competition.
Now, each actor is actually pretty good. Even Jolie, but I am still not that crazy about her. I have to admit I had no idea she could do anything funny, intentionally. Watching her here, I was impressed with her ability to play a straight role so well.
Pitt has always been able to carry a humorous role with aplomb and style. Nice word, ‘aplomb’, huh?
Anyway, Pitt and Jolie are forced to face their individual lies and each other in what is one of the most exciting gunfight scenes in recent years. The two of them destroy their house before finally being attacked by their mutual ‘companies’. I am sure you know what is going to happen next, so why bother discussing that?
If you have seen the commercials, you know this film is filled with gunfights, explosions, and car chases and the normal sexual innuendo and you have probably seen the major Dominatrix scene. And I found out what I am buying Patti for Christmas. Just without the whip. Ouch.
The humor was dark. Man, I mean very dark. There were a number of times I honestly worried about what was happening to John and Jane. The jokes were wonderfully tongue in cheek, and the plot twisted back and forth enough to keep people who have no sense of humor happy.
Alone, Jolie, Pitt and Vaughn are enough to keep almost any movie going happy. Together the three of them sizzle across the screen pulling attitudes from each other that I have not seen on the big screen before from them.
If I had any problem, it was the fact that the only two people out of all these professional killers who can shoot are Jane and John. Now if that isn’t enough to scare you about National Security, you are braver then I am.
But the big shoot out in a store is amazing. There must have been more lead scattered there then at an NRA meeting in Arkansas.
Doug Liman as the director of "The Bourne Identity” proves that he is able to keep that style and action level up without having to make to many concessions to Political Correctness and the social mindset. "Smith" deals in death, guns, lying, explosives and fast cars. And yes, the parallels between marriage and professional killers actually make a lot of sense.
It is difficult to say what my favorite scene in the film was. Was it the neat escape from the skyscraper where Jane and her fellow agents have to glide across the New York skyline? Is it the gunfight in the house, the car chase gunfight along Big Apple freeways? Or was it that amazing Tango Jane and John did where they strip each other of their weapons on the dance floor?
True, the major parts of the sexual action have been toned down a great deal. They had to so they could reach that PG-13 rating; the two stars are more then able to make up for the lack of kinky with the swagger, smiles, nods and winks.
Yes, there is a plot. But who cares? If you came to this film for a ‘story’ you came into the wrong theater my friend. The main part of this film is Jolie and Pitt and they burn the screen with their attraction and style.
Enjoy yourself; I did and I plan on it again.