Next there are the supporting performances. Vince Vaughn hits all the right notes as Eddie, John's best friend. Always ready with a quip. Vaughn has been making great strides in his comedic timing and has been on a role the past few years. This is a small role, but only furthers his work. A guy with a lot of guns who lives with his mother? Very funny. Then there is the endless supply of commandos ready to be picked off by our heroes. These guys, and their contributions here, and in other films, tends to go largely unnoticed. The film would not be the same without the anonymous mass of would be killers.
The script helps bring this up a notch too. It is a well written collection of traded barbs and loosely hidden twists. Setting the whole thing within the framework of the marriage counseling is great. Without it the rest of the film would have slipped on the impact side of things. The dialog is quick witty, and belongs not in our world, but in some alternate James Bond type reality. It may not be the greatest script ever written, but it is fun and well paced.
That brings us to Doug Liman. His previous film was The Bourne Identity, in that film he displayed an ability to deliver exciting action sequences that relied on practical effects rather the making use of extensive CG. Now, I am not against using lots of CG, but sometimes it is a breath of fresh air to see a director limit it and use the practical variety, it gives the film a different feel. In Mr. & Mrs. Smith he brings that flavor back to the screen, with the added dose of comedy. He was able to make use of the leads natural chemistry and has staged some exhilarating set action pieces using those practical effects. I look forward to see his continued use of this in the future.
Bottomline. This is definitely a case of style over substance, and the end result is a blast. It survives on the star power and fun setup. This is not a movie you see to change your life, or if you are looking for serious cinema. But, if you are just looking to have a good time, see stuff blow up real good and laugh, this is the movie for you.
Recommended.
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