Hmmm . . . Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt in the same movie. Arguably, the two best looking actors in the world. Initial thoughts? Mr. & Mrs. Smith has to suck. When the media focuses on the couple after filming the movie goes downhill . . . remember that mess “Gigli?” So needless to say, I didn’t go into this movie with high hopes.
The verdict? I was pleasantly surprised. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. The plot of the movie follows a bored married couple who are both, unbeknownst to one another, top assassins, who are each, each others’ mark. Definitely an interesting idea . . . something, Hollywood has been lacking for years.
One of my early expectations was this movie wasn’t going to make any sense. There wouldn’t be any thrills or engaging dialogue (after all, Brad Pitt stars). This was where the movie exceeded my presumptions. Mr. & Mrs. Smith is strewn with action sequences. The car chase scene is very well put together and the husband and wife altercation in the house is very entertaining, to say the least. But best of all, the movie has some very funny, pointed quotes. The give and take between Pitt and Jolie is masterful. Almost as good Abbott and Costello (rather far from here, but said to just make a point). My wife and I looked at each and laughed as both Mr. & Mrs. Smith sit and talk to a marriage counselor at the beginning of the movie. If you’re married for five or six years (as in the movie) you’ll get the goosebumps!
And even more likable is the casting of Vince Vaughn as Eddie, Pitts’ partner. I don’t know about you, but Vince Vaughn is one funny motherfucker. If you don’t know his work, I strongly suggest you see a few of his flicks like: “Be Cool,” “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy,” “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story” and “Old School.” This guy has awesome comic delivery.
But alas, there is always a downside. I found it awfully hard to believe, that they would be able to conceal their professions from one another. They literally have an ammunition dump scattered throughout the house. And I’d love to know the contractors who built the super-secret weapon stashes too! Unbelievable. Also, there should have been more gratuitous scenes of Ms. Jolie in more revealing outfits (the wife would argue the same for Mr. Pitt). But for the sake of Mr. & Mrs. Smith these few anomalies don’t detract much from the overall picture.
'Movie Review: Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)' have 12 comments
July 7, 2005 @ 10:05 am Nashtradomus
Mr & Mrs. Smith, one of this summer’s most anticipated movie, thanks to the excellent marketing work done. I didn’t have high expectations going into this movie, but I found myself enjoying the ride. You may have to suspend reality a bit to fully enjoy it, but it’s worth it.
This is an action/comedy which succeeds only when it focuses on its charismatic lead actors, who trade verbal barbs like punches. Whenever Mr. Smith (Brad Pitt) and Mrs. Smith (Angelina Jolie) are onscreen together, their chemistry makes up for a paper-thin plot. However, the film loses its course when fulfilling the action obligation of the genre. The action scenes are loud and filmed with a trembling hand by director Doug Liman (Go, The Bourne Identity). Further, the unnamed foe is altogether disinteresting: all the baddies are ‘jobbers’, not one is a ‘real’ character in the film (heck, we don’t even see their faces!).
Thankfully, the comedy half is much better. There are times when this film is genuinely funny (again only in the scenes with Mr. Pitt and Ms. Jolie) and times when it is not (usually those scenes with Vince Vaughn, who is cast as the clichéd best friend).
Overall “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” is dumb fun. It’s the kind of film you won’t regret paying money to see, but not one that holds up well under scrutiny. Then again, this sort of film isn’t supposed to be analysed.
July 7, 2005 @ 4:54 pm Mr. Green
Are you saying that the scenes with Vince Vaughn are not funny? If so, I’d ask you to watch the movie again.
As for the movie “losing its course” when fulfilling its’ action obligation, I’d ask you watch any of the latest action movies from the past 10 years. I can’t find a single one that doesn’t require the viewer to suspend reality. They’re all grossly over-the-top. Also, I didn’t see any trembling hands either. . .
July 11, 2005 @ 10:51 am Nashtradomus
The scenes with Vince Vaughn were almost bordering to the point of being ridiculously obvious and little over done. For example the scene where Mr Smith is having a conversation with Vince after discovering Mrs Smith wants to kill him. This obviously is a personally opinion of mine.
My complaint for lack of action lies with all movies that failed previously and will continue with the ones failing to meet my threshold. As for the trembling hand, that was with reference to his previous movie.
July 12, 2005 @ 10:40 pm Mr. Green
I have no f**king idea what the hell it is that you just said!
July 15, 2005 @ 8:13 am Nashtradomus
Confused you say Mr.Green? Maybe the force is not strong with you in trying to decipher such complicated matters. Just for you, I’m going to do this once again and elaborate it to you.
Vince Vaughn scenes were obviously redundant with respect to the fact that they have been tried and done nefore. I do not mock at his acting, but just that his scenes were not original and funny enough for me. Hence I was saying they were cliched.
As for the action sequences, there just was not enough to wet my appetite. Now hopefully this was clear enough for you.
July 15, 2005 @ 9:16 am Mr. Green
Not enough action sequences? Vince Vaughn scenes cliched? Here all this time I was under the assumption you knew what you were talking about.
This movie is constant action. Of course some the scenes were a bit over-the-top, but so what? Definately entertaining, especially with the verbal barbs being tossed around between Pitt and Jolie.
And I don’t know what you mean by cliched scenes. Please provide specific examples of scenes from other movies that you feel are reminiscent of the Vince Vaughn bits. I will then argue each of them.
July 15, 2005 @ 11:07 am Nashtradomus
The initial sequences in the movie was slow, namely the counselling session, how they met and got married as Jane and John. Too much talk between the action scenes, like how they should have made adjustments and what they lied to each other in the midst of a traumatic car chase and gun fighting.
I for one would have liked to skip all the mundane family drama and would have focused on the action itself. Then there was the meaningless shooting in the and these two come out alive. All i’m saying is I expected a little bit more action as part of the ingredients.
As for Vince Vaugh scenes, now I’m not going to take up that argument in trying point out exactly what movie had which scene that had semblence to the one under discussion. That won’t be a credible comparison as apples to apples. For example, the scene where Pitt and Vaughn are having a discussion in the diner and how Vaughn is lashing out at Jolie not realizing that she was standing next to him. Now tell me, something like this was completely original?
July 15, 2005 @ 1:39 pm Mr. Green
That mundane family drama is what actually sets the movie apart from the typical action sh*tfest. Pitt’s and Jolie’s interaction is classic! The initial sequence of the movie was hilarious. . .especially if you’ve been married for 6 or 7 years.
I won’t say anything Hollywood puts out nowadays is original. They reuse everything under the sun. What I will say is that Mr. & Mrs. Smith is a refreshing shot. Has it been done before? Probably. If so, is it presented in a new and invigorating way? Most definately.
July 21, 2005 @ 10:46 am Nashtradomus
I agree to all of the above, and my point is I just found the movie not quiet as interesting as you would have found it to be. It is just my opinion and not to sound too jaded or cliched, it is in the eye of the beholder.
July 21, 2005 @ 10:55 am Mr. Green
As usual I am right. So there.
July 21, 2005 @ 11:11 am Nashtradomus
you saying….
July 22, 2005 @ 7:23 am Mr. Green
I am right. Again. 8)