Rental - Mediocre and Overproduced

Rating: 5/10 (1 July 2005)

The basic plot was an interesting idea (obliviously married hit men) but was poorly developed in a week script and poorly executed with strained dialog. The actors do well with what they're given, and Vince Vaughan in particular seemed to shine for me, which should tell you why I think the movie is more of a rental than a trip to the theater. Vaughan, much like Will Farrell, is often funny, but his performances, on their own, are rarely enough to make me run to the theater (Swingers being the only exception coming to mind).
The film is saved by the chemistry between Jolie and Pitt, but it's chemistry we know comes from a real relationship. They carry it into the film, but I don't think the lines they deliver would have been believable outside that subconscious acknowledgment that they are really together. The movie, however, doesn't depend on plausibility for its kicks, which is fine. Still, after a while the glitzy and overdone special effects cease to impress and cover the lack of good writing.
All that said, it's a good movie to rent with your spouse, date, or significant other. Women seem to get more of a kick out of it than do men (check the demographics by vote), so it's something a guy can watch and enjoy while his date thinks he picked a real winner.