Knight and Day
Starring Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz and Peter Sarsgaard; directed by James Mangold
Rating: Three stars out of five
MOVIE REVIEW
Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz team for the first time since Vanilla Sky and this time it’s actually fun. Knight and Day is preposterous to the extreme but it’s refreshing to see the occasional action movie unchained to a preexisting franchise.
What might surprise moviegoers most is the bubbling chemistry between former blockbuster hunk Cruise and wide-grinned Charlie’s Angel Diaz. Both stars are on fire and really work to sell the corny premise, which is really trying to be the next Mr. and Mrs. Smith. But for the record, this doesn’t hold a candle to that piece of genius.
The film wisely eschews any real exposition or setup, as we follow Tom Cruise’s unhinged secret agent Roy Miller as he sort of stalks Ms. Diaz’s June Havens at the airport. June is just a regular gal heading home for her sister’s wedding, single but incredibly hot, who stumbles into a wild plot, seemingly because Roy sees something special in her. After a few coincidental run-ins, the two end up on the same flight and Roy has no problem leaving June smitten.
Problem is Roy is a rogue agent from the CIA and tons of goons are trying to kill him. This begins on the flight, when all on board, including the flight attendants and pilots attack while June is in the bathroom. Of course this is a comedy, so she remains oblivious to all the ruckus until the last possible second. These scenes are a bit too scripted to work, but once Knight and Day finds its groove, which includes a relentless pace, you kind of just go with it.
Set pieces include a shoot out at a diner, a few high-speed free-way chases, including one very reminiscent of Brangelina’s comedy action spoof and explosions at the beach. However it isn’t until the thrilling, yet loopy escapades aboard a train in the Alps, and Diaz’s shenanigans with truth serum in Spain, that the film really takes off. Cruise and Diaz ooze charisma, even at this point in their careers and they both look good in their tropical undergarments, so who’s to complain?
By the time the credits roll you might find yourself grinning with pleasure despite your better judgments. Low expectations will really help your viewing here.
