After almost 20 years of absence, Mr. and Mrs. Smith are finally back. Donald Glover and Maya Erskine take over from Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in the TV adaptation of the hit film and provide new adventures that are less sexy but just as crackling and funny as back then.
Over the years, Mr. and Mrs. Smith's legacy in popular culture has often overshadowed the film itself, as the filming was the setting for the first romantic spark between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. We know the rest: The actor broke up with Jennifer Aniston to build an entire empire – kids, vineyard, fun! – with his voluptuous co-star.
We therefore tend to forget the premise, which is extremely intriguing. But the main points are now contained in the series, expected on Prime Video on Friday: Two secret agents are recruited by a mysterious spy agency to carry out a series of high-flying missions. But in between, they have to pretend to create a happy married couple, everything that is most mundane… a task that will sometimes prove more dangerous than their tasks.
Updated concept
If the starting point of the series is similar to that of the film, with Brangelina we quickly go off the beaten path. For it is more of a fresh start that we are offering to the premise – English speakers would use the word “reboot” here – than a faithful rereading. The concept and its details have been significantly modernized, both in approach and in the casting, which brings together Donald Glover and Maya Erskine in the title role.
The question on everyone's lips: Is the chemistry between them as noticeable as it was between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie? No, obviously. But the two headliners of this “Mr. and Mrs. Smith 2.0” perform particularly well, both in the action scenes and in the, shall we say, lighter scenes.
Spectacular
Although their new adventures here are limited to the small screen, they are by no means less spectacular than in 2005. Hectic chases through the Big Apple or even Italy, infiltration into social evenings worthy of Mission: Impossible, thunderous explosions… We are amazed by the eight episodes, each lasting just under an hour. And these scenes are also peppered with a good dose of humor. The result: a series that is as breathless as it is funny, which we greedily devour in one day.
In short, we are already praying for a second season. Because we have the strong impression that Mr. and Mrs. Smith have not yet completed their final mission.
- The Mr. and Mrs. Smith series is available on Prime Video starting Friday.