Trailer for the series "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" (Mr. & Mrs. Smith)/Amazon Prime Video
We will never know what might have been.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge/GettyImages
It is very difficult to imagine an event like "Mr. and Mrs. Smith", the 2005 film, taking place today.
Not because it is an unforgettable masterpiece (although it was fun and better made than some of us may remember), but because of the impossible premise: the two biggest stars in the world, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, on one screen.
Not only the two most beautiful people, but also the most sought after, the most talked about, the ones everyone wants to sit down with for a beer or the second option.
And if it sounds rare, then the fact that from this production they will also fall in love with each other, and lead to the dissolution of Pitt's marriage to Jennifer Aniston, has turned everything into mythology.
A picaresque that overshadowed the film and became the most memorable anecdote from it.
Did we say very hard?
But not impossible.
The news about the remake of the film in the format of a series, starring Donald Glover ("Atlanta") and Phoebe Waller-Bridge ("Fleebag") managed to generate an impressive buzz in itself.
Two gifted creators and superstars in their own right, with tremendous chemistry potential as a duo at the center of the story, who will also enjoy the creative freedom this time allowed by eight hours of a series instead of two hours of a movie.
However, in accordance with the growing trend in Hollywood, Waller-Bridge announced the departure of the project already in its early stages, citing "creative differences" with Glover.
And so all at once, the great excitement surrounding the project seemed to fade.
We'll never know if Waller-Bridge and Glover's version would have lived up to the high expectations, but the good news is that we know what happened without it.
Francesca Sloan, who was among the writers of Glover's "Atlanta," replaced Waller-Bridge as co-creator, and on screen Maya Erskine (she is the "blue-eyed samurai" and star of the acclaimed comedy "PEN15," which she co-created with her screen partner) stepped into her shoes , Anna Kunkel).
On the face of it, a relationship that is much less exciting and arousing anticipation than the original one, but perhaps this is what allows it to pass this challenge more easily, and turn the premise of the original film into a much better and smarter work.
A mythological film for the irrelevant reasons.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, The Motion Picture Version of "Mr. and Mrs. Smith"/TM and © 2005 by Regency Entertainment (USA), Inc.
and Monarchy Enterprises Sarl
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Authentic and empathetic chemistry.
"Mr. and Mrs. Smith"/David Lee/Prime Video
Similar to the original plot, this time too the focus is on two spouses who hide from the world their true occupation as field operatives of a mysterious spy organization, sent to carry out a series of elimination missions around the world.
However, unlike the movie - where the protagonists worked in competing organizations without being aware of their spouse's real occupation - this time both knowingly enter into a fictitious marriage without knowing each other, as part of being employees of the same intelligence organization.
If this plot reminds you of the wonderful "The Americans", it's no coincidence.
Glover was well aware of the similarity of his vision to the spy drama, and already in the first episode he makes sure to wink in its direction.
This happens when Jane (the fictitious name of Erskine's character) explains to John (the fictitious name of Glover's character) that "marriage attracts less attention. You're less likely to desert if you rely on a partner. It's an old KGB tactic ". As in "The Americans", also "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" ("Mr. & Mrs. Smith") is deceptive in its focus. Apparently it is the life-threatening occupation of the two, but in fact it is the partnership that develops between them - at first reluctantly, and then as a reason to continue.
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bordering on the antipathetic.
Maya Erskine, "Mr. and Mrs. Smith"/David Lee/Prime Video
Spontaneous and committed.
Donald Glover, "Mr. and Mrs. Smith"/David Lee/Prime Video
This unusual arrangement is presented to us from the opening episode, when the acceptance interview of the two serves as an emphasis on the great difference between them.
Jane is an alpha type, organized, strives to control every situation, anti-social bordering on antipathetic and takes life abysmally seriously, does not believe in love and is estranged from her father.
John, on the other hand, is spontaneous, presents himself to the world as much less intelligent than he really is, wants family and love and is committed to a relationship with his mother.
Other works could turn all of these into "opposites attract" clichés, but here the tug-of-war between the two manages to seem both authentic and touching.
Already in the first mission Jane wonders "What do you think will happen if we fail", John instinctively answers "In our marriage?", and she replies "In the mission".
It's a smart glimpse into the inner world of the two and the things they hold dear above the rest.
It's a lonely life after all, John and Jane chose the role defined as "high risk", while in the agency there are those who serve as couriers or other service data, without putting themselves at risk or giving up having social relations and a leisure life.
And so, John and Jane's only significant connection to the outside world is a simple chat with a mysterious entity representing the organization, who opens every conversation with "heyhee", the nickname they also give her.
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The tug of war is authentic and touching.
"Mr. and Mrs. Smith"/David Lee/Prime Video
This structure of tasks alongside the development of the relationship between John and Jane makes for a fun and unusual format.
On the one hand, it is episodic and the episodes of the series could certainly be released in a weekly format, since each episode stands on its own.
Also the fact that a series of directors (among them Glover himself) are responsible for the various episodes, gives them a unique and different experience.
But on the other hand, continuous viewing enables the emotional connection to the journey the couple goes through and the relationship between them, small details that take up a bigger place as time goes by.
Ways in which each affects the other in a way that is difficult to discern when watching with long pauses.
For example, John's inability to sever the strong bond with his mother even in a secret job that requires complete detachment, is the key to his growing desire to make the bond with Jane the main thing at the expense of their occupation.
On the other hand, Jane's task-oriented and anti-social nature makes her repeatedly push him over her, even when she doesn't want to.
The secret of this relationship is in the wonderful performances of Glover and Erskine.
It is not a chemistry that explodes with sex-appeal and charisma, but rather authentic and evokes empathy.
A relationship that is often confusing and frustrating, including a lack of mutual understanding, but then alternates with small, beautiful and wise moments where the inner worlds meet, and suddenly they seem like they were always meant for each other.
star necklace
John Turturro, "Mr. and Mrs. Smith"/David Lee/Prime Video
The guests help define the heroes.
Parker Posey, "Mr. and Mrs. Smith"/David Lee/Prime Video
The heavy resources available to Amazon Prime Video prove themselves in the chain of guest stars who appear in the various episodes: Sarah Paulson ("American Horror Story"), Paul Dino ("The New Batman"), Alexander Skarsgård ("Heirs", "True Blood"), Sharon Horgan ("Catastrophe"), John Turturro ("Detachment", "The Big Lebowski"), Ron Perlman ("Children of Anarchy"), Michaela Cole ("Destroy You"), Ursula Corbero ("House of Paper"), Wagner Mora ("Narcos"), Parker Posey ("Bo is afraid", "Gardens and Landscape Department") and others.
All of them sprinkle stardust and a lot of talent on the talented infrastructure of the series, and help the pair of heroes to characterize themselves and their relationship thanks to a multitude of situations - from a chance meeting with a couple of other exterminators of society, through lonely eccentric rich people to a marriage counselor.
Although the emphasis here is definitely on the relationship, the action scenes are shot and staged wonderfully.
The fact that John and Jane's targets are all over the world allows the series to display its abilities in a wide variety of photogenic locations - another advantage of Amazon's generous budget - from picturesque capitals to real urban jungles.
She does this in an impressive way that oozes a lot of respect for the source material, and here too she often manages to surpass it.
Series that try to be both and fail in quite a few cases in both cases.
Here, the action, comedy and drama combine in a harmonious and fun way, without interfering or contradicting each other.
It seems that the main charm and value of the television adaptation of "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" is the choice to deepen and expand the relationship between the two.
Not as a gimmick of two agents who don't know about each other, but rather those who are aware of the challenge from the start and are required to learn to live and contain it.
Including living alongside a mysterious entity with changing interests, who sees this relationship as nothing but a facade.
This struggle of John and Jane with themselves, with each other and with the system, is what produces the drive to keep watching more and more.
To understand if and how they will succeed or fail not only to protect their lives, but themselves and each other.
The three episodes of "An American Nightmare" are available on Netflix.
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TV review
Mr. and Mrs. Smith'