chemistry and explosions and shoot-outs and un-witty dialog can't make a good film

Rating: 5/10 (27 July 2005)

Does this version of Mr. & Mrs. Smith (I say version because to call it any kind of 'remake' of the Alfred Hitchcock film, with no similar plot at all, would be an insult to the master) have its occasional moments of entertainment? I suppose so, but for me that cannot constitute a good movie. A lot of the comments I have read or heard about the film from critics and others who have seen it have all said this, whether they liked it or not- 'Brad and Angelina have such chemistry, they work together so well, they're so good together, etc, etc.' I wish I could say that could make a film a success, but I get frustrated with this kind of blockbuster mentality- if the film has a story, and then it has chemistry, then it will work a lot better than without it. Mr & Mrs. Smith seems to start off with a story, about an un-happy married couple who deceive each other as each being undercover agents, soon assigned to kill one another. Or rather, this is really a premise, a set-up for what should be a better story coming along. When first hearing this, it sounded amusing, a kind of riff on the 'True Lies' scenario for two other stars, Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis. But while for that film James Cameron gave them a good story to work with, after about an hour into Mr. & Mrs. Smith, there was no story I could logistically follow, or at least have an interest in following. Although Jolie and Pitt look like they're having a good time throughout, they never seem like they're taking it farther than that. It is a thriller of the most 'popcorn' dimensions, but of actors who have brought much to other roles, I expected a little more. Also, throwing in Vince Vaughn as good measure to get laughs doesn't help matters either.
It might be worth watching one night on cable, or even local TV, but I wouldn't recommend Mr. & Mrs. Smith to see in the theaters- it's a film that starts of with earnest to entertain, and descends into non-sense (and not the good, laughable kind). Not a total dud, but it is one of the disappointments for me of the 2005 summer movie season.