Clever, Comedic, and Un-Contained

Rating: 9/10 (4 January 2006)

"Mr. and Mrs. Smith" is a fast-paced comedy about a husband and wife who live secret lives. John and Jane Smith are assassins working for different companies, and their world is flipped upside down when they learn of each other's double lives. This film is very enjoyable on a number of levels - humanitarian, comedic, and action-oriented. The director, Doug Liman, shows how these two characters struggle to not only save their own lives, but save their marriage as well. In a Hitchcockian fashion, the humor is based around the idea that the audience knows something the protagonists do not. When the discovery of each other's true identity is made, classic Hitchcockian suspense is used in a number of interesting sequences. The action in the film is not only entertaining, but smart. I am reminded of the Gene Kelly dance sequences at the end of the 50's Big Band musicals because the action is passionate and reveals the characters' emotions. The stylized choreography is visually pleasing and clever. In conclusion, this film has a solid script and cast, and reveals the ups and downs of marriage in a modern and fun way. If you like "Pulp Fiction," "The Matrix," or even "Singin' in the Rain," then I highly recommend this film. Enjoy!