The Sobering Conclusion: "Mr. & Mrs. Smith"

I saw this weeks ago but figured it deserved a review since it’s still in theatres somehow. In “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie play a married couple, who are both assassins. But, and here’s the good part, they don’t know they’re BOTH assassins! Where does Hollywood come up with these ideas! No, seriously. I want to know. I have some extra military ordinance to “dispose” of.

That’s not to say this film isn’t entertaining at times. Pitt and Angelina have great chemistry, and as shown by their multiple vacations in Africa, it’s not just an act. Vince Vaughn provided some nice comic relief, but it’s hard to say if they used too little or too much of him. A thought I don’t want to ponder since it seems pointless. William Fichtner provides the voice of the therapist, sparking my little brain with hope, but he gets no screen time and I get no satisfaction. A decent supporting cast of Adam Brody, Kerry Washington, Michelle Monaghan and Keith David could have added a lot more flair to this film, but I suppose sticking to the planned script seemed more important that utilizing the resources this film had to draw upon once principle photography started.

Director Doug Liman has impressed me with his body of work up until this point, with “Swingers”, “Go”, and “The Bourne Identity”. While the cast is well chosen and the idea could have been a slam-dunk, this film falls short.

The film spends entirely too much time building up their “normal” lives, and it isn’t until Mr. and Mrs. Smith figure out the truth that the fun really begins. Once they discover the other is a rival, though, it seems both sides want them dead. So, naturally, they go on the run. Think “Deadlock” only with better chase sequences, and try to save their marriage at the same time.

Liman delivers some good action, but many of the scenes were so unbelievable that I began to hope Pitt and Jolie would die in a blaze of glory, sort of a “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” for the new millennium. No luck there, though. To give you an idea how disturbingly lucky the two are, at one point they are surrounded by trained gunmen and they stay put in the middle, shooting each of the attackers while only catching rare bullets, mostly in their bullet-proof vests. If I were going to become a mercenary, I would take Headshots 101 as part of my curriculum. Just a thought.

“Mr. & Mrs. Smith” is probably more of a rental than a must-see in the theatres. And with its PG-13 rating, Angelina Jolie fans are better off finding a copy of “Gia” or getting the uncut version of “Taking Lives”. I think you know what I mean.

This is one of those films that might get better with a sequel, now that the introductions have been made for the audience. But that doesn’t mean I’m hoping “Mr. & Mrs. Smith : The Second Honeymoon” happens. Another 6-pack of Old Style, bartender. A 3 out of 5.