Mr and Mrs Smith - Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie

Cast: Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Adam Brody, Vince Vaughn, Kerry Washington, Keith David, Chris Wietz, Rachel Huntley
Director: Doug Liman
Screenplay: Simon Kinberg
Genre: Action/Adventure
Rated: M 15+ sexual references, moderate violence
Running Time: 120 Minutes

Synopsis:
John and Jane Smith are an ordinary suburban couple with an ordinary, lifeless suburban marriage. But each is hiding something the other would kill to know: Mr. and Mrs. Smith are actually highly paid, incredibly efficient assassins, and they work for competing organizations.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith discover a new source of excitement in their marriage, when they're hired to assassinate each other…and that's when the real fun starts. The result is the ultimate action spectacle, as Mr. and Mrs. Smith put their formidable skills to work and their marriage to the ultimate test.

My Verdict:
John and Jane Smith (Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie) are at marriage guidance counselling when we are first introduced to them. They reveal how they met in Bogota, Colombia, some seven years ago where they joined forces amidst a fiery revolution and went on to marry and live a seemingly "normal" suburban life. But each of them is secretly an assassin for hire and when they both have to eliminate the same target, they cross paths and are then given each other as a target to eliminate. This sets the cat amongst the pigeons as they both try to outwit and outmanoeuvre each other as they try to kill each other, ultimately becoming aware that the relationship they thought they had is something else.

In this overly long action adventure, 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' spends too much time with big time action, explosions and excuses to blow things up, including the marital home. The relationship between John and Jane has been one of deception and lies and when the truth is revealed, they both realise that maybe there is something left in their marriage to salvage, hence the attempt at counselling.

Amidst much rumour regarding the relationship between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie whilst making the movie, the onscreen chemistry is certainly rife. There is no question that these two are having a great time in the movie and they undoubtedly have the right look and physique to pull off the numerous stunts and action work that dominates the movie. Both Pitt and Jolie spent much time prior to the commencement of filming learning the variety of skills required so that they could complete their own stunt-work without the need for computer generated intervention, and to good effect as their efforts are excellent.

Brad Pitt is, as always, an imposing and extremely good-looking person on the big screen. He delivers some cute and witty lines as any 'typical' married couple would, with great comebacks from Jolie, (and vice versa) who spends much of her time looking glamorous and pouty. They do make the formidable couple. Great support comes from Vince Vaughn as Eddie, Pitt's co-worker/buddy.

Twenty minutes could have been shaved near the end of the movie as the script wanders and slows down after it is revealed that both Smith's need to be eliminated and after a very fast and violent battle finale, there is too much indecisiveness with the story and where it should end.

'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' is ok. It's nothing great but it does have an interesting history long before it even hit the big screen and it is worth seeing just to see what Jolie and Pitt can throw at each other, verbally and physically.

Rating : ***

Christina Bruce

Angelina Jolie Interviews
Beowulf - www.girl.com.au/angelina-jolie-beowulf-interview.htm
A Might Heart - www.girl.com.au/angelina-jolie-a-mighty-big-heart.htm
Angelina Jolie - www.girl.com.au/angelinajolie.htm
Mr & Mrs Smith - www.girl.com.au/mr-mrs-smith.htmwww.web.com
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Shark Tale - www.girl.com.au/angelina_jolie_shark_tale_pf.htm
Tomb Raider 2 - www.girl.com.au/tomb_raider2.htm
Diva Goss - www.girl.com.au/gossmarch.htm