#mrandmrssmith

A week or so ago, I got an email inviting me to attend a screening of the first 2 episode of “Mr & Mrs Smith” at a Cinemark Theater. I had planned to watch the series (starring Donald Glover) so I signed up for the tickets.

The series is “inspired” by the 2005 movie starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. The biggest change as far as I can see is that, unlike the couple from the movie, Mr & Mrs Smith of the series work for the same secret agency.

In the first scene, I thought for a moment that they were screening the wrong show. Instead of Donald Glover and his costar Maya Erskine. Alexander Skarsgard and Eiza González were featured. The reason was revealed quickly. They were the “old” Mr & Mrs Smith, and their top secret agency would soon need to hire replacements.

The first episode is intercut with Glover (John Smith) and Erskine (Jane Smith) being interviewed individually for their new jobs; and the duo as they conduct their first mission. The organization is so secret, they are interviewed via text message by someone codenamed “Hihi”

Glower and Erskine are hired, given a luxury brownstone in NYC, and plenty of gun and other weapons at their disposal. The audiences learns two important details - both previously worked for organizations like the FBI or CIA and were released (fired?). They couldn’t get jobs elsewhere but were recruited via email for this one. It sounds like it’s well paid AND neither of them have any qualms about killing.

Extended portions of both episodes involve the two awkwardly discussing their situation. They only just met and need to pose as a married couple. But they are are reluctant to share any personal details of their former lives with each other. And they seem to know nothing about their employer. These conversations involve lots of pregnant pauses. To be honest, it wasn’t clever banter. I grew impatient with the slow pace.

In their two missions it appears Mr & Mrs Smith were being tested by their employer. Although their behavior during the missions might have been played for laughs, I wasn’t impressed with the espionage skills, nor their ability to communicate with each other. It’s implied that their employer wasn’t too impressed either, based on the last text message sent.

The show is a black comedy with gallow’s humor - which can sometimes be fun. But the character played by Glover and Erskine are the stars of the show. If I’m going to watch them for 8 episodes I need to like them on some level. But both came off too indifferent to life. So why should I care if they live or die?

I think if you’re a fan of Donald Glover you’ll probably like “Mr & Mrs Smith”. But I think I’ll pass.

Unintentional Ironic Humor:

— you think this story is gonna have a happy ending?