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This clanging, crashing 2005 superstar coupling seems to aspire to be a new millennium retake on John Huston's "Prizzi's Honor" and Danny DeVito's "War of the Roses", but it turns out to be a gadget-oriented action flick with grand pretensions about how a seemingly ideal couple handle marital discord. It certainly helps that director Doug Liman (who did a superb job on the underrated "Go" in 1999) has cast two ludicrously attractive leads whose intertwining personal lives would eventually overshadow their on screen shenanigans. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie star in the title roles, John and Jane Smith, and things start promisingly with Simon Kinberg's scattershot screenplay setting them up as typically upscale married suburbanites who both try to manage professional demands in light of a sagging marriage. As it turns out, they are both highly paid assassins who of course, are hired to rub the other out. This revelation is hardly surprising, but I didn't know it would signal a significant decrease in creativity for the rest of the film even as the fireworks get more explosive. The special effects and swift gunplay can be dazzling but are left on overkill mode, but by far, the worst scene is an overextended fight scene between the two that eschews its black comedy elements in favor of a commercial for domestic violence. But even this would be forgivable if Liman and Kinberg could figure out how to end the story. It seems to breathe on high-octane but strangely remains devoid of any real suspense and then abruptly stops with no real denouement. Pacing is a major problem with the movie as it feels like it goes on for far too long. Luckily, the stars have enough charisma to maintain some interest throughout. Both often lend a nice comic spark to their performances, though neither knows how to convey irony without an irritating wink-wink manner. As Eddie, Mr. Smith's cohort, Vince Vaughan seems to be the only one who seems completely adept at black comedy. Kerry Washington, on the other hand, makes virtually no impression as Mrs. Smith's task force colleague. Even though he shows off an impressive set of six-pack abs, Pitt seems particularly lost at times, but Jolie manages to dominate the pairing with her stunning beauty and take-no-prisoners attitude. It's too bad the story serves merely as a vehicle for their mutual posturing.Read full review
Named after a 1941 Alfred Hitchcock film, MR. AND MRS. SMITH is really its own ball of flaming wax, with enough sizzling chemistry between stars Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt to blow up a small building. He shows he is equally adept in comedy and action, and she manages to set new screen standards of bad-ass sexiness. It's impossible to dislike this pair, or a movie that makes being married seem like such insane fun. Pitt and Jolie play extremely skilled professional assassins who have managed to stay married for five years without ever realizing each other's profession because they work for rival agencies and the work is top secret. When their paths eventually cross on a high-level hit, one of the most lethal battles of the sexes in the history of cinema is officially on. Thanks to a genuinely witty script, the issue isn't who will win, but whether the couple will realize they are meant for each other before it's too late. Director Doug Liman was obviously the right choice for the material, having proved his ability to fuse engaging romance with knuckle-biting action in 2002's THE BOURNE IDENTITY. The comedy is sophisticated and witty, the action is visceral and intense, and there is plenty of satisfying eye candy. Another plus is Vince Vaughn as a fast-talking fellow hit man who lives with his mother. The cinematography is by Bozan Bajelli (the genius behind Abel Ferrara's best mid-1980s work) who imbues each environment, whether it's the Smith's house, or the urban streets--with its own evocative color scheme and feelRead full review
This film appeared to be promising. What could go wrong with Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt? A hardly believable story for one and uninteresting chemistry between them. Mr. and Mrs. Smith is about a married couple whom both are hit men working for different hit men companies without suspecting each others' secret lives. The premise alone sounds far-fetched, but the beginning of the film automatically leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. The characters seem to be comfortably sitting on couches both talking to the therapist about their ever decreasing interest in each other. I sensed that something was terribly wrong when by the end of that extended scene I was feeling sleepy and clueless. I had no idea who were these people, nor did I care. Eventually, after they find out about their secret lives after a failed hit, they try to take each other out, only in the end to find out that by telling the truth it suddenly makes their vows and life together much more meaningful. It's so sweet when they settle their differences that you almost forget they are both assassins and that they don't seemed troubled by the mere thought that they both killed others for a living. But yes, their marriage was going down the drain so it doesn't matter if they both skillful liars and murderers. Even with all the action I became very bored and found the gags really passe. The way Columbia is portrayed in the movie is an example of the writers being dumb as heck. Why didn't Angelina Jolie say anything about this at the time she was making the film? After all, she supposedly cares for third world affairs. The one truly single major insult was, after they made up, their companies put a bounty on them and decided to track them down and take them out. It's way too bad their aiming and their larger numbers couldn't compare to Brad and Angelina's super-human speed, resistance, agility and superior marksmanship. Did I mention I had no idea with whom they were fighting against? We never know who they work for nor who employed them? They just randomly pop out to fight them. The car chase scene was actually the only real good thing about this film. The rest of it was just plain stupid. Don't get me started on the characters, watching Brad Pitt and Angelina on this movie is painful, they have no chemistry whatsoever, Brad mumbles all his lines and Angelina is a predictable tom boy stereotype and one-trick pony. Vince Vaughn's jokes all fall flat, and why is Vaughn actor called The Tank anyway? The film manages to accomplish one thing. It makes reality look a whole lot more interesting. I'm going to give this film a 3/5 for attempting to put on heirs about high profile assassins who usually have a boring home life that somehow manage to stay alive throughout the film. IF YOU LIKE MY REVIEW, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO LET ME KNOW BY VOTING. THANKS.Read full review
This is THE movie. The movie that supposedly broke up Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston. The movie that lingered in the background of the countless tabloid articles that graced our newstands. The movie that brought Brad Pitt together with Angelina Jolie and her kids. In fact, so many things have been surrounding this movie that people tend to miss one very important thing...simply put, this movie ROCKS! The movie's premise is pretty straightforward. A couple's marriage is on the rocks. But the fact that eludes both of them is that they are both assassins. One day however, Jane is asked to kill a target, that John is supposed to kill as well. They then learn the true identity of each another and because their cover is blown, are ordered to eliminate each other. The story ensues... The story is pretty simple. Hardly anything extremely intelligent or thought-provoking. One thing I loved about the movie however, was the on screen chemistry between not just the two leads, but everyone involved. It helps that the movie had some of the best, most sarcastic dialogue I've heard in a long time. The banter and quick quips between John and Jane was highly entertaining. They were a joy to watch. Doug Liman has been churning out great movies like Swingers, Go and The Bourne series and he continues the tradition here. He has a gift for identifying what the audience wants, and if you realize he has dabbled in movies from different genres and pulling them all off with his own style. The acting, especially between Brad and Jolie definitely made the movie much more than it actually was. The passion comes full force when they try to outdo and kill each other. There's a certain sensuality they bring to the characters. This is more sexy than romantic, and I'm not really surprised they fell for each other after the making of this movie. I don't know about real life, but they made a fantastic couple here, neither backing down and both exchanging creative insults. Add a healthy dosage of one of my favorite comedians of all time, Vince Vaughn and you already have a killer movie (no pun intended). Of course, the movie had it's share of absurdity and unrealistic action sequences, but Doug Liman knows this. That's why he never pretends to take the movie seriously because he knows it's all in the name of fun. And that's what makes the movie a blast. In the end, it all comes together very nicely. When you think about "feel good" movies, it doesn't get any better than this. Charming leads, respectable plot, humor, action, witty dialogue...it definitely does not disappoint...perfect for laying back and just enjoying. Again, if you are a fan of Angelina Jolie, then grab this copy and add to your dvd collection!Read full review
Usually when I fall asleep in a movie, that is a sure sign I won't try to watch it again. Well, I didn't completely fall out, but pretty close in this one several times. Seeing this in the theater, the effects were spectacular. Explosions, stunts, the works were the best of the year's movies. Brad and Angelina were holding too much back in their roles, which really brought the movie down. Brad was still keeping "secrets" during the filming, so they had to keep that secret well throughout the entire marraige fallout. It's just hard to believe that Brad Pitt could show out so badly in a movie. Brad was using the same cocky overworn attitude of Tyler Durden, while Angelina was stuck somewhere between Tomb Raider and Taking Lives. Overall, not bad, but I expected better from such high profile actors.Read full review
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