Review - Matt Mungle

   

If there is one overdone movie plot of late it is the story arc of the average American citizen getting tangled up in espionage, hit men and CIA Opps. They are mostly created for the comedic action of course but still you walk into films like these with little or no expectations. Luckily KNIGHT AND DAY has elements that make it as different from the others as, well, night and day.

June Havens (Cameron Diaz) catches the wrong flight back to Boston which entangles her with a somewhat off kilter and slightly goofy, rouge secret agent (Tom Cruise). The next 110 minutes has her trying to stay alive, him trying to keep her alive and the both of them trying not to kill each other in the process. It is fast paced and director James Mangold (Walk the Line, 3:10 to Yuma) uses some slick action sequences and impossible agent style gun play and car chases to keep the story rolling.

Though predictable and seldom straying from her comfort zone Diaz is still likable in this role and has just the right amount of innocent humanity to make it endearing. Cruise is near perfect in his portrayal of a trained killer on the run from the government who bred him. This is a comedy at heart and Tom Cat creates a character that though 100% tough guy is slightly tongue in cheek. He does it in way that is not campy but rather refreshing. You sometimes wonder if he is completely off his rocker.

If it helps, you can go into this as a romantic comedy instead of an action comedy and still not feel disappointed. Though the characters are not onboard for most of the movie there is still a hint of romance, flirtation and spark that gives them the chemistry they need. Certainly full of action and adventure this does not forsake the romantic in the audience who wants to see two beautiful people avoid bullets but be a little too slow in beating cupids arrow.

Rated PG-13 for sequences of action violence throughout, and brief strong language it has very little in the way of offensive material. Most will find it the perfect date night movie for any age. Lots of laughs and fun characters allow you to check your brain for a few hours and have some fun at the theater. The only issue is the ending which is a little slow in resolving and at times a little too tedious. But forgivable in the long run. You can’t take this film too serious or dissect it too much or else you will simply waste your time. It gets 3.75 out of 5 non refundable tickets. Sit down, buckle up and enjoy the ride.