Mr. and Mrs. Smith: Review By carl

Directed by Doug Liman (Swingers) and starring the combined might of Brad Pitt (Oceans Eleven) and Angelina Jolie (Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow) Mr. And Mrs. Smith is one film that screamed potential. Unfortunately this light hearted tale of the ultimate marital dispute does not contain the same easy going humor and consummate coolness that all 3 players have proven themselves capable of providing.

The film stars Pitt as Mr. John Smith a mild mannered husband by day, hired assassin by night. Jolie plays his unwitting wife Jane, a quiet suburban housewife by day, hired assassin by night; for a different company! Both parties struggle to keep the 2 lives separate but succeed at keeping up the visage of a quiet suburban couple. That all changes when the 2 are hired to kill the same person, get in each others way, and are given just 48 hours to take out their spouse.

Surprisingly enough it's these 2 normally talented entertainers that prove to doom the film. As a couple they lack even a spark of chemistry and as a result potentially energetic scenes fizzle out and die before they can get started. Alone they are better, but still there can be no denying that neither star is on top form. Brad Pitt is easily one of my favorite actors but here he just can't seem to raise his spirits enough to pull off the goofy charm required. His facial mannerisms are just a little to subdued for the comedic scenes, but a little to prevalent for the more action packed moments. Jolie on the other hand manages the films visual gags with aplomb, but just can't seem to raise her own unique spark for her exchanges with Pitt.

The film works better as an action movie. I've liked Liman's style ever since The Bourne Identity and once again he's not afraid to shake things up. He's not of the Michael Baye school of directing where every scene has to feature the same camera shots, the same flashy cars, and the same lame one liners. There's just something raw about his style that utilizes every day objects and vehicles to make the action feel like it takes place in the real world. One scene in particular featured the couple shooting it out in there own small town home, throwing kitchen knives around and pulling shot guns from the oven, yet still the setting feels real. It's this feeling combined with Liman's shakey but well placed camera that helps to give the audience a sense of place during the action scenes, and it's this that makes them so much fun.

It's just a shame that so much of the film relies on the non existent chemistry between its stars. Simon Kinberg has done such a good job on the films script, bringing out scenes involving a marriage guidance councilor with comedic genius, and adding such a light hearted spark to the literally explosive break down of a marriage. Yet the fact that Jolie and Pitt so badly fail to ignite that spark means that all his work was in vain. Vince Vaughn does his best in an extended cameo as John's partner in crime Eddie, and to be honest his natural timing and eminently watchable charisma do breath life back into any scene he features in. Sadly he's not at the center of the film, and his energy disappears as soon as he does.

Believe me I wish I didn't have to say this. The film does have a witty script, solid direction, and some very good support. Yet the fact that both Pitt and Jolie are on a bad day means that none of those aspects raise more than a chuckle, and the majority of the film is much more of a chore than it deserves to be.