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Mr And Mrs Smith
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Plot
John (Brad Pitt) and Jane (Angelina Jolie) Smith are the perfect couple: rich, stylish, ridiculously good-looking. But all is not as it seems. Jane's not a systems analyst and John doesn't work in construction. Unbeknown to each other, they're both international assassins.
Review
The premise of a couple of oblivious contract killers whose marriage suffers a body blow when their next hit turns out to be each other is hardly a new one. It was, of course, the basis for John Huston's 1985 Mob flick Prizzi's Honor. But where that was a demure black comedy with all the kinetic energy of a chess game, Mr. & Mrs. Smith is a speedfreaks' pinball tournament.
Flushed with the success of The Bourne Identity and still cashing cult-cred cheques on Swingers, Liman brings every ounce of acid wit and furious style at his disposal to this party. The caustic tone is set in a title sequence that finds the Smiths squirming their way through a marriage guidance session, a scene you can imagine Jennifer Aniston finding rather less amusing than the rest of us.
Things hot up on the home front, however, when they bodge coinciding missions to rub out the same mark and their respective agencies assign them to eliminate the competition. Frantic cat-and-mousing ensues. As do oodles of gunplay, outlandish gadgetry and murderously barbed dinner-table quips, darkly mirroring the what's-wrong-with-this-picture? vision of American domesticity beloved of '60s TV shows like Bewitched, with an outwardly perfect couple circling each other over the pot roast (likewise Brad stashing his arms cache in their suspiciously pristine toolshed; Jolie in her spotless, state-of-the-art electric oven).
As you'd expect from a director who effortlessly flipped from the stylish humour of Swingers and Go to the gritty spy thrills of Bourne, the physical duelling's as deftly handled as the verbal, while he keeps the two inextricably intertwined. One spectacularly staged gunfight deteriorates into a drag-out brawl of quite astonishing ferocity. Naturally, as undiscovered tribes in the Peruvian jungle could have told them, this is simply foreplay to an epic shag, from which they emerge, drowsy and satiated, amid the symbolic wreckage of their model home.
Okay, so it's rather ridiculous, and it all goes a bit nuts come the end, but the perfectly formulated chemistry between Pitt and Jolie is sparkling cyanide throughout. Aside from being arguably the two most indecently attractive people on the planet, both achieve the perfect balance of self-deprecation and sexual dynamite, never taking anything too seriously. Pitt's at the top of his goofy-cool-guy's-guy game, and it's an unalloyed joy to finally see Jolie land a role worthy of her mettle. She's funny, sexy as all get-out and kicks ass with a shameless glee that would make Lara Croft blush (it's hard to believe that the more icy Nicole Kidman was originally signed up for the role). Vince Vaughn, essaying yet another delusional dimwit as Pitt's boss, is just the icing on a cake that's almost entirely icing to begin with. Gloriously amoral, grown-up fun.
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Mr And Mrs Smith Released: 25 November 2005 Two commentaries, one from Doug Liman and screenwriter Simon Kinberg, the other by producers Lucas Foster and Akiva Goldsman. |
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| Your Reviews |
Average user rating for Mr And Mrs Smith |
| Mr. & Mrs. Smith Review | |
| Although this action-romance suffers from weak writing and one too many explosions, the chemistry generated by onscreen couple Pitt and Jolie is palpable enough to make this a thoroughly enjoyable summer action flick. ... More | |
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Posted by the film man at 08:44, 24 May 2012 | Report This Post | |
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| The problem with Mr and Mrs Smith is that it isn’t the action-comedy it was advertised as, yet it still features many comedic and action elements and scenes. But the film contains features of romantic-drama-action-comedy-espionage-thriller, but is only good at the action-comedy. This means that anyone who was looking for a good romantic comedy will be bored by the gunfights and car chases. And vice-versa. Pitt and Jolie work well together but neither really leave their comfort zones so it... More | |
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Posted by stevolegendbauer at 18:22, 21 August 2010 | Report This Post | |
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| In theory the plot sounds really cool but in praxis... they didn't really get it right. Huge parts of the film are totally boring and dumb. Partially still enjoyable because of the two lead roles. ... More | |
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Posted by FanaticalAboutFilm at 13:24, 28 September 2009 | Report This Post | |
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| awesome | |
| i'd like to give this film 41/2 stars. nothing is wrong with the film but it isn't ~quite~ classic material ... More | |
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Posted by bleugh07 at 23:17, 03 November 2008 | Report This Post | |
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| awesome | |
| i'd like to give this film 41/2 stars. nothing is wrong with the film but it isn't ~quite~ classic material ... More | |
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Posted by bleugh07 at 23:17, 03 November 2008 | Report This Post | |
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| A laugh-your-ass-of movie! | |
| This is a really histerically hilariously funny movie. Don't miss this! This is great. Hate me if u want but, I DON'T CARE, I LOVE THIS MOVIE. ... More | |
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Posted by nc_jj at 00:18, 20 August 2008 | Report This Post | |
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| Decent action fare... | |
| but nothing new, Angelina Jolie is very entertaining, Brad Pitt is surprisingly lackign charisma and the storyline is a wishy washy mess, but there IS plenty of rather impressive action to distract us from the less refined elements, but action alone does not a great movie make. Scrapes 3 stars. ... More | |
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Posted by jomo999 at 19:48, 12 June 2008 | Report This Post | |
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| has its moments | |
| this film is ok in places but to get to these you have to sit bored for a while ... More | |
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Posted by lewey T at 13:23, 15 February 2008 | Report This Post | |
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| Fun but hardly Bourne quality. Liman is worth more. ... More | |
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Posted by Kat113 at 19:19, 10 February 2008 | Report This Post | |
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| Hilariously abysmal | |
| There aren't many things this film gets right, so let me focus on them. Its length is appropriate for being this kind of shoddy action film (unlike say Die Hard which uses its timing well). That's it. That's all that I could find. It's hard to enjoy a film which at best can be described as a "light hearted action romp" and at worst "a showcase of bad acting (if the term is even applicable) by people whose looks outclass the predictability of cleverness of the film". Let... More | |
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Posted by joelteon7 at 09:57, 12 November 2007 | Report This Post | |
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| Depends on your mood | |
| It was okay fun, I suppose. But a mite too contrived. I recommend one watches it with the other half (the film at least inspires verbal jousting with your partner). ... More | |
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Posted by dhollseed at 02:19, 18 August 2007 | Report This Post | |
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| Depends on your mood | |
| It was okay fun, I suppose. But a mite too contrived. I recommend one watches it with the other half (the film at least inspires verbal jousting with your partner). ... More | |
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Posted by dhollseed at 02:19, 18 August 2007 | Report This Post | |
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| This film was very good. A charming plot, gr8 fights, good soundtrack and Angleina Jolie. What is with the curtains? "Any last words?" "The curtains are hideous"! They were though. Do you reckon there colud be a sequel? I'm not sure ... More | |
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Posted by davieboy at 15:18, 13 April 2007 | Report This Post | |
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| This film was very good. A charming plot, gr8 fights, good soundtrack and Angleina Jolie. What is with the curtains? "Any last words?" "The curtains are hideous"! They were though. Do you reckon there colud be a sequel? I'm not sure ... More | |
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Posted by davieboy at 15:18, 13 April 2007 | Report This Post | |
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| Great fun to watch. brad pitt+ Angleina+ action+ comedy= a great movie (mr and mrs smith) ... More | |
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Posted by davieboy at 15:17, 13 April 2007 | Report This Post | |
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| Great fun to watch. brad pitt+ Angleina+ action+ comedy= a great movie (mr and mrs smith) ... More | |
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Posted by davieboy at 15:17, 13 April 2007 | Report This Post | |
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| comedy+action+jolie= another mediocre movie with flashy effects and little plot. ... More | |
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Posted by cameraman at 15:05, 21 March 2007 | Report This Post | |
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| RE: Mr and Mrs Smith | |
| Thought it was as dull as ditchwater, a real disappointment coming from the director of Swingers and The Bourne Identity. ... More | |
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Posted by Indio at 21:40, 06 March 2007 | Report This Post | |
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| RE: Mr and Mrs Smith | |
| A guilty pleasure, two of hollywoods hottest (looks wise) slugging it out in set piece after set piece. Wpuld have thought there would be a little more emotional backstory etc. like Liman previous work rne Identityo cares when youve got big explosion, a lot of guns and rough sex after a gunfight. ... More | |
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Posted by spideyfan666 at 20:18, 06 March 2007 | Report This Post | |
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| Mr and Mrs Smith | |
| Doug Liman always puts so much energy and fun into his films and this is no exception. A slow start opens out predictably into the mother of all marriage separations, polished off with some very impressive set pieces. Pitt and Jolie sparkle whilst getting minimal support from those around them. Harmless fun. ... More | |
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Posted by qualidad at 14:26, 20 May 2006 | Report This Post | |
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| Mr And Mrs Smith | |
| He burst onto the scene with instant cult hit 'Swingers', he gave us the teenage 'Pulp Fiction' that was 'Go', then he confounded expectations by making 'The Bourne Identity' absolutely fantastic, and making Matt Damon convincing as a spy! Now Doug Liman is helming yet another high-tech blockbuster with a troubled shoot, and consist tabloid photo exposes of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's, alleged, off-set antics. Once more though the behind-the-scenes strife isn't evident in the film, though th... More | |
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Posted by kingoftheducks at 02:48, 19 April 2006 | Report This Post | |
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| The smiths | |
| A slick action movie with great sequences and brilliant moments. FAntastic. ... More | |
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Posted by premierbaron at 17:06, 28 March 2006 | Report This Post | |
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| RE: Mr always comes first! | |
| This was entertaining enough. Quite funny in places and the pairing of Pitt And Jolie works very well. The action sequences are excellently executed, but I did feel the last part of the film was a let down. But if you want Prizzi's Honor meets True Lies, then this is perfect popcorn fair. ... More | |
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Posted by wrenster at 18:18, 07 March 2006 | Report This Post | |
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| Mr always comes first! | |
| This film was very good. A charming plot, gr8 fights, good soundtrack and Angleina Jolie. What is with the curtains? "Any last words?" "The curtains are hideous"! They were though. Do you reckon there colud be a sequel? I'm not sure. ... More | |
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Posted by cerberous at 11:16, 13 February 2006 | Report This Post | |
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| Mr always comes first! | |
| This film was very good. A charming plot, gr8 fights, good soundtrack and Angleina Jolie. What is with the curtains? "Any last words?" "The curtains are hideous"! They were though. Do you reckon there colud be a sequel? I'm not sure. ... More | |
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Posted by cerberous at 11:12, 13 February 2006 | Report This Post | |
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