Mr. and Mrs. Smith

Mr. and Mrs. Smith casts Robert Montgomery and Carole Lombard as David and Ann Smith, a squabbling couple who, after discovering that their marriage isn’t legally valid, embark on separate relationships in an attempt to move on (and, in David’s case, revive the coupling). Filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock has infused Mr. and Mrs. Smith with a light and breezy feel that certainly complements Norman Krasna’s less-than-substantial screenplay, and there’s little doubt that the movie benefits heavily from the strong work (and palpable chemistry) of its two leads – with Montgomery and Lombard’s go-for-broke performances consistently elevating even the most minor of sequences. It remains clear, however, that there’s not much in the way of substance here, as Mr. and Mrs. Smith contains a hit-and-miss episodic structure that essentially results in a complete lack of forward momentum. (There are, having said that, a number of irresistibly entertaining sequences sprinkled throughout, including a high-water-mark sequence that finds David attempting to make Ann jealous by pretending to be on a date with an oblivious woman.) The end result is a somewhat passable yet instantly forgettable endeavor from an otherwise first-class filmmaker, and it’s ultimately no surprise that Mr. and Mrs. Smith has become one of the least talked-about entries within Hitchcock’s body of work.

**1/2 out of ****