Comedy. 2009. 118 min. With JULIA ROBERTS, CLIVE OWEN, Tom Wilkinson and Paul Giamatti. Director: Tony Gilroy. 13L.
Rating: 3/5
Reviewer: Kim Van Reizig
There’s a big war on between two powerful US spy corporations and agents Claire Stenwick (Roberts) and Ray Koval (Owen) are in the middle of the mess. Their paths cross while they’re seemingly working on the same assignment but after spending a passionate night together they realise they’re on opposite sides of the fence. The first of many twists in the tale reveals they met years ago.
While the big bosses (Wilkinson and Giamatti) fight for market domination the two agents have their own plan. Deception becomes the name of the game when a new product from one of the companies threatens to eliminate all competition and you don’t know who’s playing who until the very end.
This highly entertaining film by the director of Michael Clayton has espionage, snappy dialogue, a romance worth caring about as Roberts and Owen sizzle on screen, beautiful scenery in Italy and the Bahamas and enough twists to make you gasp. It’s what Mr & Mrs Smith should have been.