I was watching this film last night after flicking through the channels and thought that this wouldnt be a half bad film to review.
The basic story is adapted from the 1940(ish) Alfred Hitchcock flim by the same name. I havent seen this version so i wont try and compare (but i guess it was quite successful). Doug Liman has brought together a fantastic cast, obviously with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie (John and Jane Smith) but also with key appearances from Adam Brody (Thank you for Smoking), Kerry Washington (The Last King of Scotland, Little Man, Fantastic Four, She Hate Me, Against the Ropes, The Human Stain, Ray, Bad Company and Save the Last Dance) and Vince Vaughan (Dodgeball, Starsky and Hutch, Be Cool, The Break Up and Zoolander) to make this film that i have to say from reading reviews about it gained a mixed reception.
Mr and Mrs Smith tells the story of two contract killers that cross paths and fall in love whilst on a Case, only to discover after five years of their marriage that they are both in the same business. Contracted to kill each other they must battle to safe both their lives and their marriage. I don't quite know how to characterise this film, it is a romantic action comedy if i can put it that way. Three quite different genres but which i think where quite masterfully linked together.
As the film begins you are met by the typical actionhero, secret agent sort of feel where both Angelina and Brad are working on a contract only to cross paths. Both characters i believe are doing what they do best. Brad Pitt Showed in films like Oceans Eleven and Twelve that he could play the intelligent, swarve character that he has master once again in this film (although quite comically aswell in some parts). Angelina, in my opinion, was at her best in Tomb Raider - Playing the Hot, tough and sexy heroin that we do not see very often.
Once they meet, and inevitable get married, the situation changes and they both travel through their day to day lives without questioning their partners lives. It is only when they are assigned to the same contract that the problems begin and the story unravels, showing the cracks in their marriage but also their love for each other which keeps them fighting.
It is an interesting concept, having romance and comedy added to an action film. Normally these sorts of things end up in the bottom of the Sale box at your local DVD store, however i think this film achieves something that others have failed to do. The special effects, long action sequences, funny comic moments, great use of character development (and i have to mention the backstory of the relationship between Brad and Ange dont i) all build this film up to be entertaining through out.
I have to say i doubt i would buy this film on DVD. ITs just not exactly what i would call my type of film. I think where it fell down to most people was that it tried to cover too many different aspects. Being funny, Action packed yet romantic is a hard thing to do and unless you capture these genres well enough then die hard fans from all of these will not watch.
Overall i would rate this film around 7/10 - It is definately a film i would recommend for someone to watch, its very entertaining and i never felt bored at all. However its not a film i felt had enough depth for me to keep wanting to watch enough to buy the DVD.
Watch it on TV definitely, buy it if you like any of these genres and want a bit of fun, dont buy it if your looking for 2 hours of non-stop action, romance or comedy because thats just not what you get. Still take nothing away from this film, its entertaining - isnt that what movies are for??
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Production Year: 2002 - Action/Adventure - Director: Vincenzo Natali - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Lucy Liu, David Hewlett, Anne Marie Scheffler, Joseph Scoren, Matthew Sharp, Jeremy Northam
Production Year: 2007 - Action/Adventure - Director: Paul Greengrass - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring:Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, Joan Allen, Edgar Ramirez, David Strathairn, Paddy Considine, Albert Finney
Production Year: 1977 - Action/Adventure - Director: Clint Eastwood - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring:Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Pat Hingle, William Prince, Bill McKinney
Production Year: 1964 - Action/Adventure - Director: Cyril Endfield - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring:Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth, Michael Caine, Nigel Green
Released amidst rumors of romance between costars Angelina Jolie and soon-to-be-divorced ... more
Brad Pitt,Mr. and Mrs. Smithoffers automatic weapons and high explosives as the cure for marital boredom. The premise of this exhausting action-comedy (no relation...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
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withMr&Mrs Smithhe was allowed to fashion an elegant romantic trifle starring Robert Montgomery and Carole Lombard. It probably won't replaceRear WindoworPsychoin your a...
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Feb 13th, 2007
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![Mr. and Mrs. Smith [DVD] [2005] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/70010706.jpg)
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