Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Synopsis:  John and Jane Smith are a normal married couple who've recently begun having marital problems. Their life have become too routine and they are drifting apart. What each of them have failed to discover however, is that the other is living a secret life as a super spy.  Working for competing agencies they travel the globe, perform assassinations and then return home for dinner at seven. But when they are sent to assassinate the same man and discover the secret a new spark is lit... and then blown sky high as the two go head-to-head to eliminate each other.

Review: Mr. & Mrs. Smith stars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie as the titular couple and is an action-comedy made as only Hollywood can do. Filled with banter, gunfights, car chases, sexy actors and of course huge explosions. It's a joy ride from beginning to end and should never be taken seriously.

The stars are at the top of their game here. Jolie is sexier and tougher than ever and Pitt brings his own toughness as well as most of the films humor. Together they are the coolest super spy couple to grace the silver screen. They might not convince entirely as an old married couple growing tired of each other, but they really sell the passion that returns later (which probably didn't require much acting...). They do great in the action scenes as well as the quieter and more sensitive moments. Together they make the movie and I have real trouble trying to imagine this movie with anyone else playing their parts. In addition to the two main parts, Vince Vaughn shows up as Eddie, John's friend and colleague. It seems to me that he's there for comedy relief, but it never really works. He does an okay job with the role and has a few genuinely funny moments, but most of the time he's just there.

The movie was directed by Doug Liman who did The Bourne Identity, another great action movie, and it looks great. The Blu-Ray  version looks particularly great with the color schemes and beautiful scenery. The sound too is fantastic and utilizes a surround system to full effect.

I have to complain a little about the movie, though. I think it could be much improved by being a bit shorter. I they shaved off around ten minutes the plot could've been a bit tighter and some of the scenes would feel a little less stretched out. There were also some issues with the sub-plot revolving around the character of Benjamin Danz. It seems the writer is setting up a twist, but at the same time pretty much telling the audience far in advance what's going to happen. That took some suspense out of a sequence towards the end.

The main reason for seeing Mr. & Mrs. Smith however is the action and that definitely doesn't disappoint. And it's not just action for the sake of action either, most of it works well into the story and progress the film. The main exception being the final shootout which, however fantastic it looks, feels a bit like a chore to tie up the last dangling plot thread. It doesn't really accomplish that either, but it doesn't matter in the end because the movies focus was on the main characters. And hopefully they can wrap up the rest properly in a sequel...

Summary:  Mr. & Mrs. Smith is a funny, sexy and very entertaining movie. It might be a bit too long and have some plot issues, but overall is one of the best action movies I've seen from Hollywood in the last few years.

8 / 10