Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Both Pitt and Angela are pretty good. They have style, but there is no chemistry between them, which in a movie where chemistry is essential, is a fundamental problem. So this is no high-action War of the Roses, despite trying hard. It’s also needlessly long, and could have been helped by some cuts, especially in the slow introduction. The action scenes are rather mediocre, rather uninspiring, not particularly entertaining and it doesn’t even work as a summertime relaxing popcorn movie. Without Vaughn, it would be a crock of... Although it has potential, apart from two or three scenes, where tension between the characters is evident, this is simply a routine movie. (24/07/2005)

A standard Hollywood prefab with a weak script and awkward, clichéd humour. There are a few funny gags (about two), but they get completely lost in a flood of mediocrity. Even the action scenes, which should have been Liman's greatest domain, are not anything special, except perhaps for one car chase. I'd write more, but this movie completely fizzled out of my head an hour after watching it. In short, it was one of the box-office hits that attracted audiences only thanks to the big names, and strangely enough, it was able to make 200 million dollars. But it wasn’t for me. (25/10/2005)

The script is noticeably shaky, the spy lore is sloppy and the first half of the film is made up of needlessly drawn-out exposition. Fortunately, however, it is saved by its framing through a session with a relationship therapist and a second half that comes to a magnificent culmination, which is memorable not only for its superbly played action/relationship scenes, but ultimately also for the dynamic of the couple dynamics and the chemistry between the protagonists, which is completely absent in the first half. The action sequences come only in the second half and their strength consists in the fact that they combine money shots with the evolving relationship of the titular couple. In spite of that, however, it’s very difficult to dispel the notion that, despite its obvious ambition, Mr. & Mrs. Smith can’t hold a candle to True Lies. (16/08/2023)

There were a few enjoyable moments, but in the two-hour runtime it was like a drop in the sea. I felt like I had seen it all before. The whole thing follows the pattern of a standard romantic comedy, with action scenes grafted on it not to make it too obvious. Plus, the film stars Angelina Jolie... I could say that I like her about as much as hemorrhoids, but I want to show a little decorum, so let me just say I’m not particularly fond of her. (28/04/2020)

A pleasant action comedy which had overly high demands placed upon it from the beginning. I was expecting nonstop action but most of the time they're just talking. There's great chemistry between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, and we all know where it led to. Doug Liman shows that he can easily handle action along with all the trimmings, and now I'm just looking forward to his Jumper. (30/08/2007)