.204 -- Mr. And Mrs. Smith Review.
I went to see Mr. and Mrs. Smith last night and
This review is probably going to echo a lot of others, because I agree with the likes of musesfool and profshallowness on a lot of it.
The film was sylish and sharp and fast-paced enough to keep me interested. The action sequences were creative, interspaced with a nice helping of one-liners and dry wit that Brad and Angelina pulled off very well. The chemistry between them was fantastic; even the no-holds-barred fight scenes were beautifully choreographed, constantly echoing what most people undoubtedly thought throughout the movie -- that this couple would make a good team of assassins if they weren't trying to kill each other.
What I liked most about the film was the way that Jane and John were each able to convey (together and separately) that they actually loved one another without making the scenes overly sappy. The scene in the restaurant where Jane is sat alone was short but moving -- the lone tear signifying a lifetime of misery after the death of the husband she thought she had just killed.
Though the couple never seemed to hold back in the fight scenes, they both seemed to share the same faith in each other that the viewers did -- a faith that they were each skilled enough to avoid killing each other. We all knew neither of them would die because despite the fights, the explosions and the death count, this was not a tragedy. It was a dry comedy that boasted amazing action sequences, marital humour that never gets old (the quip about John being unable to find Jane's "button" is most amusing) and a unique style of romance.
I liked that this film wasn't immensely sexist, which a lot of these types of films are. As most of the characters that Jolie plays, Jane could hold her own. She had her own skills and her fair share of gadgets, just like John. This cover of domestic bliss, with Jane cooking dinner every night and having it on the table for when John gets home from work, was not so much sexist, but poking fun at the idea of it. It is obvious that when Jane is preparing the vegetables for dinner, her expertise range further than the kitchen. I liked the hilarious little dig at the domesticity when we see that Jane actually has a nice array of weaponry hidden in the oven.
Though the movie was immensely sexy, I still don't think it was sexist. A lot of people could argue otherwise, considering that for a good fifteen minutes of the film Jane was walking around in a men's white shirt and wellies. But to my delight, so was John. I liked that Jane was sexy and sassy even when she was up to her head in blood and grime. The scene where Jane is on an assignment dressed as a domintrax was amusing, especially after the following scenes in which she arrives at a neighbour's party dressed in pink with black fishnets and knee-length fuck-me boots. It makes you wonder how both Jane and John have managed to keep their secret lives separate for so long.
The addition of Adam Brody as The Tank was a nice touch. I adore Brody in anything so I was pleased to see him.
My only one nit-pick was the fact that the film was a little too long. I personally don't think the scene at the beginning, where we see Jane and John meet, was entirely necessary. Their relationship didn't really need to be established, because I already knew that they were married and we would eventually find out how they managed to keep their secret lives hidden. The scene in which they first met told me nothing I didn't already know.
Apart from that small thing, it was a brilliant movie that ended on a light-hearted, comical note ("Ask me the sex question again." Ahahaha). I definitely recommend this film. The plot isn't complicated or difficult to grasp, but the film definitely has a good serving of chuckle-worthy moments and compelling action sequences to appeal.
This review is probably going to echo a lot of others, because I agree with the likes of musesfool and profshallowness on a lot of it.
The film was sylish and sharp and fast-paced enough to keep me interested. The action sequences were creative, interspaced with a nice helping of one-liners and dry wit that Brad and Angelina pulled off very well. The chemistry between them was fantastic; even the no-holds-barred fight scenes were beautifully choreographed, constantly echoing what most people undoubtedly thought throughout the movie -- that this couple would make a good team of assassins if they weren't trying to kill each other.
What I liked most about the film was the way that Jane and John were each able to convey (together and separately) that they actually loved one another without making the scenes overly sappy. The scene in the restaurant where Jane is sat alone was short but moving -- the lone tear signifying a lifetime of misery after the death of the husband she thought she had just killed.
Though the couple never seemed to hold back in the fight scenes, they both seemed to share the same faith in each other that the viewers did -- a faith that they were each skilled enough to avoid killing each other. We all knew neither of them would die because despite the fights, the explosions and the death count, this was not a tragedy. It was a dry comedy that boasted amazing action sequences, marital humour that never gets old (the quip about John being unable to find Jane's "button" is most amusing) and a unique style of romance.
I liked that this film wasn't immensely sexist, which a lot of these types of films are. As most of the characters that Jolie plays, Jane could hold her own. She had her own skills and her fair share of gadgets, just like John. This cover of domestic bliss, with Jane cooking dinner every night and having it on the table for when John gets home from work, was not so much sexist, but poking fun at the idea of it. It is obvious that when Jane is preparing the vegetables for dinner, her expertise range further than the kitchen. I liked the hilarious little dig at the domesticity when we see that Jane actually has a nice array of weaponry hidden in the oven.
Though the movie was immensely sexy, I still don't think it was sexist. A lot of people could argue otherwise, considering that for a good fifteen minutes of the film Jane was walking around in a men's white shirt and wellies. But to my delight, so was John. I liked that Jane was sexy and sassy even when she was up to her head in blood and grime. The scene where Jane is on an assignment dressed as a domintrax was amusing, especially after the following scenes in which she arrives at a neighbour's party dressed in pink with black fishnets and knee-length fuck-me boots. It makes you wonder how both Jane and John have managed to keep their secret lives separate for so long.
The addition of Adam Brody as The Tank was a nice touch. I adore Brody in anything so I was pleased to see him.
My only one nit-pick was the fact that the film was a little too long. I personally don't think the scene at the beginning, where we see Jane and John meet, was entirely necessary. Their relationship didn't really need to be established, because I already knew that they were married and we would eventually find out how they managed to keep their secret lives hidden. The scene in which they first met told me nothing I didn't already know.
Apart from that small thing, it was a brilliant movie that ended on a light-hearted, comical note ("Ask me the sex question again." Ahahaha). I definitely recommend this film. The plot isn't complicated or difficult to grasp, but the film definitely has a good serving of chuckle-worthy moments and compelling action sequences to appeal.