Sleep-inducing stylised action, Hollywood style

Rating: 4/10 (29 August 2016)

I guess I was expecting too much of this film. After all, it was directed by Doug Liman, whose THE BOURNE IDENTITY was an excellent movie, and as a leading lady Angelina Jolie is easy on the eye. But in the end this is another lightweight Hollywood comedy with zero substance and outlandish, unbelievable action sequences in which special effects count for everything. One of the main problems the film has is the lazy performance from Brad Pitt, on sleepwalking mode throughout, although Angelina Jolie shines opposite him. The main story about a bored suburban couple having secret lives is familiar – see TRUE LIES, for instance – and this doesn't add anything new to the concept, apart from increasingly crazy action scenes that remain cartoonish and detached even if the special effects do look nice.
I normally don't care for Vince Vaughn as an actor, but he's the best thing in this film – genuinely funny in all his dialogue bits, a real scene stealer. I admit, some of the comedy isn't bad either. But at two hours this is an overlong film with lots of meandering and repetitive bits. The two stars scrub up well but the cinematography is such that it appears they're vainly posing for the whole running time. The ending's also a cop out. I wanted to like this film, I really did, but in the end the main effect of MR. & MRS. SMITH on me was to send me to sleep.