DVD review: Mr. and Mrs. Smith in a tizzy

DVD review: Mr. and Mrs. Smith in a tizzy

Move over cerebral hunters. Director Doug Liman's 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' is watch-able, albeit it can't work its way into everybody's minds and hearts…...perhaps. For those who are bitten by the realism bug, keep your hands off that DVD shelf. The Smith couple is in a tizzy and if you don't like roller coasters, you won't like the glamorous starriness, the racy pace and the I-know-what-will-happen-next feeling that will hit you in the guts, even as the violence goes a bit overboard to please.

John Smith and wife Jane (Brad and Anjelina) have a marriage which has crossed the 5 year itch and is gradually losing its charm to the mundane, when something rocks their existence to the roots and definitely puts back the spice in the staidness. Both are strangers to each other, at least their clandestine professions are, both being professional killers working for competing agencies. That is, before a quirk of fate (read twist of script) takes them to a common assignment, where they are suddenly facing each other as opponents. Scriptwriter Simon Kinberg's turning point hurls them into an action packed plot of opposing interests, fuelled by underlying passions and cool comedy, all rolled into one and topped with tech special violence.

This 120 minutes run is not for you if you are expecting more than humor, full-throttle action and oh so beautiful people. It tickles, is very on the beaten path and leaves you asking a lot of unanswered questions at the end. But then, this is a spicy dish at the roadside café, not your gourmet meal in an air-conditioned restaurant.

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The pluses are the sparks that ignite a terrific tuning between Jolie and Pitt. In retrospect, this budding-on-the-sets romance, which killed Jennifer Aniston's marriage to Pitt, was very visible. However, inspite of overwhelming chemistry, their performances don't remain completely unnoticeable. Pitt and Jolie reaffirm their penchant for action and smack their performances with the funny side. Yes, Pitt does make you laugh, with his portrayal of the somewhat clumsy, amnesia-ridden husband. The kind of timing that comedy demands is carried off by Brad Pitt confidently, whether it is when he greets his neighbor as he attempts to enter his own house slyly or when he is pleased with some of the worst pop music ever heard on earth.

Jolie, whose action scenes are confirmed excellent, performs to the funny beat well. Both speak well to each other, silent and verbal both, the sheer tuning seeing through. The ludicrous plot is highly ill-matched with the excellent dialogues, which seem impromptu and not rehearsed at all.

The supporting cast has a memorable role by Vince Vaughn as Eddie, Mr. Smith's dear friend. Here is some food for the cerebral hunters, because Vince is truly the scene stealer in the show.

Though Doug Liman has publicized his fourth movie as hotly realistic in the love scenes, it seems he was just trying to cash in on the real life triangle-gone-sour of Pitt, Aniston and Jolie. There are no nude scenes, no steamy ones either, just a couple of intermittent and jerky touch-and-go sessions, which don't linger at all. This is an out and out violent movie.

The DVD carries 3 superfluous speeches by the director, scriptwriter and editor and crew. Probably, one would have been enough, and the inclusion of Pitt or Jolie in it would have been more marketable. The other benefits of this DVD include 3 scenes left out in the theatre release and a brief film 'Making A Scene' proffered by the Fox Movie Channel. The video film is an analysis of the scene where Brad shoots at Anjelina's car. The information about editing lab mistakes and the original shots makes for interesting hearing.

So, what we have here is the average, windy and entertaining Liman flick, which promises to thrill but will surely not impart any succor to those searching for real, big league stuff.