Killers: Trouble in Paradise
Friendly neighbours who turn out to be ruthless government super spies is a surprisingly well worn sub genre; although that’s never stopped Hollywood giving it a good dusting off now and again as this week proves. Spencer, played by Ashton Kutcher is a special agent who whilst on a mission in Nice spots cute-as-a-button and very ordinary Jen, the ever perky Katherine Heigl, and decides to give up being a lethal weapon who could kill you with a used teabag attached to a rubber band and put down some roots. Three years later enjoying suburban bliss his cover is blown, causing him to come clean to Jen whilst keeping them both alive.
Director Rob Luketic begins with a surprisingly classy opening, with Ferrari’s gunning along sparkling French coastline and a titles sequence that recalls the likes of early Bond films and The Thomas Crown Affair. Though when your opening scene is set in Nice it’s not difficult to look suave; this is made all too apparent when the plot jumps forward three years and we’re faced with a typical drab American suburb to stare at for the remainder.
Like the setting the story is suddenly struck with an incurable case of unending dullness where any hint of excitement or action is quickly buried by a combination of nothing happening and nobody being sure whether the film is a romantic comedy or an action drama. The shift in tone cripples proceedings as characters swing wildly from talking about how many people they’ve killed to the usual threadbare jokes about in-laws with no hint of direction. It could’ve been at least saved in part by the chemistry of the two leads but the much needed sizzle never gets above tepid; Heigl is likable and cheery but struggles with a poor script whilst Kutcher fares worse, seemingly at odds with how serious or screwball to play it. It’s a glaring reminder that films such as True Lies and Mr & Mrs Smith have delivered similar material in the past so much better than this with a real appreciation of fun and cool.
The sense of a wasted opportunity is compounded further by providing the usually reliably funny Tom Selleck and Catherine O’Hara with limp gags and rounding things off with one of the most ridiculous excuses for an ending witnessed this year.
In a few weeks time Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz will attempt to lead us on a similar merry dance in Knight And Day. Something tells me they will put this effort firmly in the shade.
