Two of the things most lethal to relationships -- particularly of the married variety -- are boredom and suspicion of some sort of "extracurricular activity" on the part of the other partner. Although they elicit different sorts of emotions, they often have the same, undesired, negative results. One need look no further than Mr. and Mrs. Jones for that.
Appearing in the black comedy action hybrid bearing their names, the two are in counseling because their marriage has become so mundane and humdrum after five or six years (they can't agree on even that figure) that they're bored silly with each other. After a passion-filled chance meeting many moons ago, their marriage is now passionless and they suspect the other of doing some sort of moonlighting on the side.
Of course, they don't realize what exactly that might be, although their real professions should have clued them in. And that's one of several logical and logistical problems in this otherwise fairly entertainingly if decidedly adult offering. You see, in reality, they're both contract killers who've somehow managed to keep their actual vocations secret from each other. And when that proverbial cat is finally out of the bag, all hell breaks loose as they apparently determine that they have been sleeping with the enemy and then proceed to try to annul their relationship in a rather unusual fashion.
It may be unconventional, but it's not exactly novel as films such as "Prizzi's Honor" and "War of the Roses" have previously showcased marital discord gone bad, black comedy style. Like those films, one's appreciation or not with this offering is all a matter of taste, one that I must admit, I happen to have. That is, as long as the potentially tricky material is handled just right. After all, if things get too ugly or out of control, such films run the chance of alienating their viewers.
Fortunately for director Doug Liman ("The Bourne Supremacy," "Go"), he has several things going for his film. First, the script by Simon Kinberg ("XXX: State of the Union") -- for essentially being a one-note joke and premise -- is surprisingly witty, filled with some deliciously blackened dialogue, and for the most part is rather entertaining. And then there's the fact that Liman gets to work with that only okay-looking pair of actors, Brad Pitt ("Ocean's Twelve," "Troy") and Angelina Jolie ("Alexander," "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow").
Separately, each is quite an eyeful, but together they make quite a visually pleasant sight, and they have plenty of passionate chemistry -- of both the positive and negative variety -- to light up several films. Armed with Kinberg's deliciously bitter dialogue, the two engage in the type of witty banter that used to be more commonplace in Hollywood comedies eons ago and that's part of what makes the film both engaging and fairly entertaining.
Throw in Liman's proficiency with action scenes and related mayhem, and all of the ingredients are present for a funny and dark ride through marital discord. The only caveat -- as is often the case for big summer movies -- is that one must turn off the higher functioning parts of their brain to enjoy the experience. That's because the film's basic premise is its biggest flaw.
Of course, one could argue that Pitt and Jolie's characters are so good at what they do that they'd have no problem hiding their secret and violent lives from each other. Yet, unlike in "True Lies" where such deception was only one-sided, you can't shake the nagging feeling that this arrangement just isn't right. I suppose the filmmakers could have gotten around this by making each character think they had fooled the other over the years when in reality both really knew about the other, but just didn't let on.
Yet, then there's the issue of why the two suddenly see the other as the enemy and try to kill them (when in reality they could be working for the same side, but just don't know it yet), or why they keep returning to their house when they know it's no longer a safe haven. I realize most of that's just nitpicking, but such issues do become a bit distracting.
As does the fact that the film doesn't really have anywhere to go once the premise is established and the discoveries are made. Once the initial big fight is out of the way -- and boy, it's a doozy and makes the Roses' encounters in their film look like a minor disagreement -- the film somewhat ends up spinning its wheels. Simply put, it becomes a bit too familiar by the time it ends up culminating in yet another big shootout with various "villains" who are trying to kill the couple.
For the most part, and despite those problems, however, the film manages to work. That's thanks largely to Pitt and Jolie who are obviously game for the material and seem to be having a literal and figurative blast playing their parts, such as arguing about other issues in the middle of a gun battle on the highway in their stolen minivan. While Jolie is good in her role, Pitt steals the show with his performance where every line of dialogue, action and reaction is pitch-perfect for this sort of offering.
Vince Vaughn ("Be Cool," "Dodgeball") and Kerry Washington ("Ray," "She Hate Me") appear as supporting characters and sounding boards for the husband and wife, while Adam Brody ("Grind," TV's "The O.C.") plays the catalyst for upheaving the marriage and getting the action going. While Vaughn gets a few funny lines, the supporting characters are nowhere as enjoyable as the main ones.
Although it has its share of problems and obviously isn't for all viewers, the film has enough positive things going for it that those looking for an engaging and decently written black comedy will likely be entertained by what's offered. "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" rates as a 6 out of 10.
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