Mr. and Mrs. Smith was originally an action comedy film from the 2000s that had the star power of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Almost 20 years later, Francesca Sloane and Donald Glover adapt the popular movie into a television series.
The new Mr. and Mrs. Smith follows a similar premise. It follows a married couple, John (Glover) and Jane (Maya Erskine) who perform covert operations. However, instead of working for competing organizations, they are employed by the same company and are strangers when they initially meet. The more they work together, the closer they become until their business and romantic lives become intertwined.
Sloane and Glover do an excellent job of world building expanding upon the original while placing their own spin. They bring insight on the mysterious company that John and Jane work for and how things work. In addition, they introduce an eclectic mix of recurring characters and guest stars, and cleverly craft a story where every detail plays a role in the narrative.
One main focus of Mr. and Mrs. Smith is the grounded look at the relationship between John and Jane. Through them, we see the different stages of any romance from the exciting early days of getting to know each other to the eventual rough patches and serious conversations. The writing creates missions to complement whatever issues they are going through. Whether it’s the first date, first vacation, or couples therapy, everything works cohesively to deliver a complete episode.
For their part, Glover and Erskine have great chemistry with each other and it’s their personal journey, not all the super spy stuff, that keeps you engaged. Even their more casual conversations are sharp, endearing, and give you a sense of how much they feel for each other. There is a relatable realism to their growing love and complications. There is no magic reconciliation showing how much work is needed for any successful partnership.
Those expecting the spectacle of the summer blockbuster movie may be disappointed. Although there are moments of action and unexpected surprises early on, much of the time is spent on the character development. If you’re patient, things do ramp up later on mimicking the tumultuous state of John and Jane’s relationship. There is a fun nod to an iconic scene from the film, and the finale is a good culmination of everything that came before. But it might leave some a bit unsatisfied even though Mr. and Mrs. Smith repeatedly shows it isn’t doing stereotypical Hollywood.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith is an entertaining and smart spin on the original focusing on the personal relationship toll while working in espionage.
Stream the entire first season of Mr. and Mrs. Smith beginning Friday, February 2, on Prime Video.
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