Directed by Doug Liman.
2005. Rated PG-13, 120 minutes.
Cast:
Adam Brody
Chris Weitz
Stephanie March
Ah yes, the birth of “Brangelina,” AKA Jennifer Aniston’s
least favorite movie of all time. Possibly. You know what? That’s about all the
celebrity gossip I can stand so we’ll move on. With your permission, of course.
The actual movie revolves around John (Pitt) and Jane Smith
(Jolie). They met five or six years ago, depending on which one you ask, at a
hotel in Bogota. Due to an assassination within that country, local police were
looking for someone traveling alone. As luck would have it, and their wits,
they managed to convince everyone they were together. This inadvertently sparks
a romance and the two were married shortly thereafter. Like many couples,
particularly those having problems, they keep secrets from one another. Theirs are
probably a little bigger than the ones in your marriage. Neither of them knows
that the other is a paid assassin. That all changes when they find themselves
in the same place, at the same time, trying to kill the same target.
Unsurprising, in hind sight, Pitt and Jolie share a playful
chemistry. It carries the movie rather nicely. The jokes, aimed directly at
anyone who has ever been in a long-term relationship, and the double
entrendres, are all smooth, delivered with the perfect amount of sarcasm. It
keeps us chuckling pretty consistently, even during their action scenes
together, of which there are plenty. Our two leads appear to be having a great
time. Pitt’s scenes with Vince Vaughn also work very well. It’s basically the
usual schtick we get from Vaughn, but it works.
Back to the action. It is very well done. Things blow up real
good while bullets and fists fly everywhere. Again, our stars are to be
commended as both pull off the physicality of their roles without issue. Of
course, there are some things that are too much to be believed, but they’re
worked in nicely and become part of the fun. Therefore, we laugh and don’t
really analyze things that probably shouldn't, or couldn't, happen.
In my world, maybe not the same as yours, Mr.
& Mrs. Smith is a movie that’s stood up to repeated viewings. I've
seen it several times and enjoyed it immensely each time. Our heroes work great
together on the screen and it is exciting. The script they’re working with is
clever and completely tongue-in-cheek. For my money, this is one of 2005’s most
under-appreciated films.
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