Mr. & Mrs. Smith –
Unrated (Standard DVD-Video Set)
Picture: B
Sound: B Extras: B- Film: C-
I just love when I tell someone a new special edition of Mr.
And Mrs. Smith is coming to DVD and the person I am talking to says “why
does that film need a special edition DVD set?!?” I then tell them that it will be coming out in the high
definition Blu-ray format too, so they made more extras and it takes two DVDs
to fit them all. Of course, we have
reviewed the film before and critic Nate Goss had choice words to say why he
did not like the film. I liked it a
little less than him, which is not good, though another staff member really
despised it, dubbing it “Prizzi’s Honor for morons!”
Now know that I like Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie and
Jolie’s commitment to charity work and children is inarguable, saying more
about her great character than any movie could. Both are two of the best actors of their generation, which might
be why they are now together (no slight to Jennifer Aniston, who is a good comic
actress or Billy Bob Thorton, who could go a few rounds with anybody) and the
chemistry between the two saved the film commercially. They are a great match, even if it might be
too cutesy for some. It is obviously
oozing with sex for others.
There is even money on the screen in the locations,
clothes, action sequences and shooting itself, but it never adds up to
much. The film is just empty and all
you are left with is Ocean’s 11.5 with explosions galore. Just imagine the film with two actors you don’t
like and you’ll get the point. Even in
this Unrated set, it does not really impress and Vince Vaughn once again
plays… well… some lesser version of his
character from Made. The story
of married hit-people who happen to be married to each other could have worked,
but the broad commercial route was taken and you’d be better off buying a box
of Hart To Hart.
The 2.35 X 1 anamorphically enhanced image is good looking
without a doubt, as close to the film print as regular DVD could get, even
having good Video Black.
Cinematographer Bojan Bazelli did not gut out all the color, typical of
the genre too often now, which is why this sold. The 5.1 mix is Dolby Digital is good, but DTS is much better,
with clear dialogue and good soundstage, though some sounds were a bit weak
versus what we heard in the theater.
The moment Pitt throws Jolie’s knife at the wall and it hits is an
interesting test for any system.
Extras repeated here from the original DVD include a
commentary track by various people involved in the films creation, deleted
scenes and behind the scenes material.
This new set adds deleted scenes, alternate ending, a breakdown of the
film in film school fashion, “secret footage” for the very curious and stills
in three faux album sections. The missing
or alternates would not have helped this film out, but fans will enjoy this set
if no one else.
- Nicholas Sheffo
