Dir. Doug Liman, US, 2005, 120 mins
Cast: Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Vince Vaughn, Adam Brody
This action-comedy’s arrival to our shores has been long anticipated due to the rumour mill rotating around the relationship that, allegedly, signaled the demise of the marriage of one of Hollywood’s golden couples, that of Brad Pitt to everyone’s favourite friend, Jennifer Aniston. It’s rare that the tabloid gossip mongering can make that transgression whereby the real life speculation adds to the actual mise-en-scene itself, rather than just embellishing it with mouth candy. For months the public has been regaled with the pictures and the daily glamorous soap opera of the Angelina-Brad-Jennifer eternal triangle so that now, watching the film that sparked the scenario, it becomes a little akin to watching Big Brother – or should that be Celebrity Love Island? The point being made here is that this is one film where the two-handed interplay between the lead characters is what earns it’s box office receipts.
Fortunately for all, this is more than an exercise in voyeurism and watching two film stars begin an illicit courtship on screen. Pitt and Jolie are possibly two of the “hottest” and most lusted after stars in the Hollywood canon. Both have previously defied their critics by turning in performances that prove they are more than just a pretty face. Neither is noted for their comedy work. Their eventual pairing was guaranteed to fire speculation based on all the above, to the point that the ensuing events might have been deemed inevitable.
So – to the film itself. The golden duo play a long (by some standards) married couple – John and Jane Smith, who met in Bogota “five or six” years ago. They enjoy a stable suburban marriage, but are having counseling to find the missing spark. So far, so everyday. Now, had this been a Mikes Nichols or Leigh film, we would have a detailed survey of the complexities and probable heartache of this situation. However, this is fantasy Hollywood and what they each don’t know is that the other’s daily routine involves hunting down and taking out assigned targets because they each are, in fact, highly-trained assassins. So, when a call comes for them each to individually travel to a desert location where they learn that today’s target is their other half, the sagging marriage receives a much-needed adrenaline surge. There’s nothing like a bit of danger and excitement to revive a flagging relationship. As the twosome actively decide whether to be the consummate professionals and complete the job in hand, or whether to join forces and save themselves as well as their marriage, the physical sparrings en route lead to energetic love making just about everywhere, and echoes of Lara Croft’s high-kicking antics and tabloid tales of blood-letting seep in to fuel the on-screen image.
While the last big film outing – Gigli – peopled by performers who were involved after the cameras stopped rolling was most notable for the lack-of-chemistry between the two stars (Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez), Mr & Mrs Smith provides a couple that genuinely work well and play off each other, with a smouldering, understated chemistry. Pitt hasn’t been so sizzling since J.D. notoriously proved the downfall of Thelma. What’s more, for two of Hollywood’s beautiful pin-up faces and bodies, they show that while they are perfectly capable of propagating their ‘star’ persona, they are able to integrate this into a winning, well-acted performance, placing them in the same league of a Will Smith (who at one point was in the picture for the male lead) or a Tom Cruise, deftly adding comedy to their repartee – and very dark comedy it is too. The clever, witty script plays no small part.
For the lads, this is a nice big Hollywood action (almost) blockbuster with a fantasy woman, car chases and explosions (not to mention that funny Vince Vaughn from Liman’s ultimate boys movie Swingers). For the rom-com brigade, there’s beautiful Brad, much humour and a lot of, albeit twisted, love. For your more discerning audiences, an exploration of modern day relationships is available. A clever and appreciable element but one, ultimately, that is inessential. This is a fun and sizzling popcorn movie, and where’s the harm in that?
Jean Lynch
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