What delicious fun!

Rating: 9/10 (13 June 2005)

Angelina Jolie does not surprise as Jane Smith. Her considerable talents, athleticism, intensity and beauty make her the natural choice for the assassin-wife to, er, die for. Brad Pitt does not surprise as John Smith. His considerable talents, athleticism, intensity and beauty make him the natural choice for the assassin-husband to, er, die for. As the film started, I wondered if the script and the director stymie Jolie and Pitt: they didn't. "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" is yummy cinematic entertainment. Professionals are at work here: even a simple Tango is a study in pauses, glances, gestures, knowing looks and catchy dialog. Ah, some might say, the story is preposterous. Realistic films can be very rewarding  "Crash" proves that. "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" is rewarding without reality's constraints.
The film, however does have its flaws: a couple of popular music cues are awkward, if only because the rest are so rewarding. Mrs. Smith's colleagues are professional women and obviously provide a balanced team of intelligence and intuition. Mr. Smith, alas, is stuck with Eddie, offered by Vince Vaughn. Vaughn repeats his nuisance-dullard-twitchy sidekick, a roles better left to "Dodgeball." Vaughn has achieved some popularity and the marketing mavens might have twisted some arms. Luckily, his on screen time fails to do major damage and is merely a nuisance. Go make another Ben Stiller flick, Mr. Vaughn.
Some critics have compared "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" with "War of the Roses." I don't see it: DeVito's "Roses" is nonstop acidic, hateful, unrelenting bile having no entertainment value whatsoever. "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" is worth every fun minute at your local Cineplex.