I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed this film. The only criticisms I give it involve the excessive violence that seems out of place for such a light film. The two ‘hits’ in the movie, one by Mrs. Smith (Jolie) and Mr. Smith (Pitt), remind me of Buffy (the S&M and the quick-death neck-twister) and Boondock Saints (it was the Irish, probably).
Anyway, I think one of the reasons this movie didn’t do so well was the combination of action/adventure and marriage. For some reason, I don’t think the average American wants to know that a lot of hard work will fix their marriage. And I figure many people feel uncomfortable with the acknowledgement that marriage has problems. It’s not your typical comedic ending where they live ‘happy ever after,’ or so it is assumed, the ending that has so contributed with the ideal of marriage being the purpose of life (and all romantic comedies). I think people must’ve not liked the idea that if Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie couldn’t work it out without counseling and honesty, no one can.
