Mr. And Mrs. Smith is a big, silly hybrid of War of the Roses and True Lies. One of those mega-star vehicle-pictures that cruises along without the need for particularly great writing, or particularly great anything for that matter. What matters is that the star power generated by "on and off-screen" lovers, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie be a sufficient spectacle to lure the movie going public away from their "home-theater comforts" while competing against the summer tent-poles popping up all around.

Pitt and Jolie as the title characters, play a bored married couple (a running joke in the film suggests they've been married from five to six years) who are hoping to make a re-connect through therapy. What both Smtihs are unaware of is that each of them are in the same line of work - they're both trained assassins. Wouldn't you know it. They've managed to hide their true identities from one another, but when two different agencies assign both Smiths to the same mark, their respective covers are in the cross-hairs.

Mr. And Mrs. Smith is sort of structured like the recent Monster-in-Law (although overall, this is a much better movie) in that the premise has a sitcom feel to it. And whereas, most people went to see that film to watch J. Lo and J. Fo square of against one another, most people will likewise go to see this picture in hopes of seeing Pitt and Jolie exchange bullets and barbs. Well, either that or have sex. For those looking for a little "Womb Raider" or "Fight Rub" action, you'll be happy to know that you get both, granted Mr. And Mrs. Smith is PG-13, so the proceedings are a little more audience friendly.

Pitt and Jolie deliver to an extent. They do look good, and both appear to be having loads of fun, particularly when they're beating each other to a bloody pulp. As far as actual performances, I never entirely bought into Jolie's suburban housewife. She does, however, play the action sequences with a kind of ferocity that seems to come quite naturally. Pitt is . . .<caron>well, Pitt. His smug Mr. Smith is comparable to the part he played in Ocean's 11 and 12. Pitt does add some fun comical touches to the proceedings, and he too looks to be having the best time when there's action involved.

Unfortunately, there are very few surprises to be found in Mr. And Mrs. Smith. When I say surprises, I'm not referring to double crosses or plot twists. I'm simply referring to anything that would have lent the film a little zip - beyond the norm. Most of the movie features the two leads either bickering (which becomes tiresome) or trying to outwit each other.

The War of the Roses influence is completely obvious, as a huge chunk of the film features the Smiths turning their home (which bares an uncanny resemblance to the house in the mean spirited but hilarious Michael Douglas/Kathleen Turner movie) into a war zone. Unlike War of the Roses however, it's clear that the Smtihs do have a fondness for each other (bringing to mind another Douglas/Turner collaboration - the entertaining Romancing the Stone), even more so after they become aware of their common bond. It sort of adds that spice that was missing in their relationship.

Mr. And Mrs. Smith was directed by Doug Liman. Here, he attempts to fuse the hipness of his Swingers with the blistering action of his The Bourne Identity to mixed results. To punch up the funny factor, he even brings Vince Vaughn along for the ride, and while there are a few humorous moments to be found in Mr. And Mrs. Smith, it never entirely gels. The movie is well paced I suppose (capped off by an impressive car chase) but I never really found myself caring whether or not the Smiths got back together.

Mr. And Smith is pretty much what I expected it to be. It's eye candy. It's the kind of movie I probably won't remember a couple of months from now, but I suppose it was entertaining enough while I watched it.

On an interesting little side note, the marriage therapist is voiced by an un-credited William Fichtner who turned in a terrific supporting performance in Doug Liman's Go.