"Mr. and Mrs. Smith"

Reviewed by Chris Cappola
Starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Directed by Doug Liman. (2005, 20th Century Fox/Regency)

It's all about chemistry - you either have it or you don't, there's no ability to fake it. Many actors don't have it. 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' is all about chemistry between its two titled leads and boy do Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have it. A mix between 'True Lies', 'The Bourne Identity' and 'The War of the Roses', 'Smith' combines all the elements of a true blockbuster.

Pitt and Jolie play two suburbanites suffering a non-existent marriage who are both secretly keeping from each other the fact they are hired assassins working for opposing sides. When both are given the same job, they are pitted against each other to take out a target (Adam Brody) and discover each other's secret. The screenplay written by Simon Kinberg is an assortment of different ideas mixing in a cynical outlook at suburban bliss while balancing it with action spectacles and far-fetched nonsense. The scenes involving Pitt and Jolie's marriage life is well-written and could have come off an episode of 'Desperate Housewives' with its deadpan script. While the action does seem a bit over-the-top at times, it's always exciting and is helped by additions of comical timing. In a film like this a nonsensical plot is all part of the game and there's a lot of holes in the plots but its all part of the fun.

Director Doug Liman has already shown he is more than a capable director with 'Swingers', the underrated 'Go' and 'The Bourne Identity' and this is another worthy addition. The action is well-crafted and he balances the film between its two varying ideas and leads giving both Pitt and Jolie a chance to strut their stuff especially in the scenes where they are against each other. There's none of this Steven Soderbergh flashy shots and it's a straight out action-comedy. It could have been at least 20-30 minutes shorter and does drag on for more than required but it's a terrific effort but it would not have been without Pitt and Jolie.

The film rests sorely on the chemistry and delivery of its two leads and they are as strong as they ever have been. Taking aside their off-screen rumours of romancing during the shoot and tabloid nonsense, Pitt and Jolie make a sizzling couple and are an ideal match for each other. Even better, they bounce off each other with such impeccable timing that it's a level of believability that is very hard for actors to emulate. Brad Pitt has excellent comical timing and seems to be having as much fun as he ever has and it's one of his strongest roles in quite sometime. He is what George Clooney can only ever dream of - he is charismatic, smooth and has excellent comical timing that it's a surprise that he is so good. Angelina Jolie is as radiant as ever in a sexy role that gives her a great character that she is having a ball with. The scenes involving Pitt and Jolie's marriage is reminiscent of 'The War of the Roses' and not since Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner tore their house apart has a couple had so much fun while battling each other. Together they not only steam up the screen but they are great with each other. Vince Vaughn and Adam Brody have small but key roles and do well even though they are characters that they have done before.

'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' is a return to a good-old action pic without any flashy imagery or attempts to be something more than what it is. This is a straight action-comedy with silly ideas, great overblown action and two leads who have never been hotter or better. In Hollywood, it's all about chemistry and Pitt and Jolie are magic together and are helped by two roles that give them the ability to be fun, sexy and dangerous. This should be a reference for Hollywood's greatest onscreen couples. Exactly, what is expected from a Hollywood blockbuster.
out of 10
- Chris Cappola's Reviews

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