A box office bomb upon release,
Knight and Day![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tCtFowDh40M1rmsZX-2gSPaHmHdLYpRXqMf3DXR-fuG0csykJICVKJOusIqdoNLQK48_dqBMwhniDS-K1odCsiAjcd-NyXEN285ahJw6VSvvfBa60V8r8ryzRZ07VkuVDjvTrz5pz2fiMfsobNAmOyBh8z3FKAuxUnnokar8OtBz3dE3o=s0-d)
has been frequently compared to this summer’s other thematically similar deadly-man meets girl-next-door comedic actioner
Killers![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_txabzUY7bT4IiK7TNh_q1bJLI6MpCvTl5vM3DBGmHUT2cJih4xq12CCSNjREXSrTZTVPUf5BAV539GPTWMnBF6tilNZToh9iNVhAQUlqT2Agmi1mibsVv5R1v-4JK0O2OfTK2NAiBPn-Oy1xHUHuyty2sv9nkJRa46eced3YUp6Eplzw=s0-d)
, which intriguingly shared at least one uncredited screenwriter in common to give the Katherine Heigl/Ashton Kutcher vehicle a script punch-up.
Admittedly however on the one hand, the benignly entertaining
Killers![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_txabzUY7bT4IiK7TNh_q1bJLI6MpCvTl5vM3DBGmHUT2cJih4xq12CCSNjREXSrTZTVPUf5BAV539GPTWMnBF6tilNZToh9iNVhAQUlqT2Agmi1mibsVv5R1v-4JK0O2OfTK2NAiBPn-Oy1xHUHuyty2sv9nkJRa46eced3YUp6Eplzw=s0-d)
took most of its inspiration from Doug Liman’s
Mr. & Mrs. Smith![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_v4FY2dlEI4mqMr-XsT0Y4ZXvqVMKvWT8G7oeC59V3pMwGbX-E9tbs9i3bz78fBwr-RfTEzerfatqBj0p0DEHU_e9mVppDEWfdKc6kg1kk89eRQnRde4CFdGobPoRRXT3rRN4cw2KKmju902h-TyZoJKSyhDxvjkEWvT2ShLQBnpLn8Mw=s0-d)
and suffered for it in a CGI heavy and completely illogical conversational wrap-up that ruined everything fun that had come before it by failing to support the cool presentation with a cohesive storyline.
Thankfully,
Knight and Day![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tCtFowDh40M1rmsZX-2gSPaHmHdLYpRXqMf3DXR-fuG0csykJICVKJOusIqdoNLQK48_dqBMwhniDS-K1odCsiAjcd-NyXEN285ahJw6VSvvfBa60V8r8ryzRZ07VkuVDjvTrz5pz2fiMfsobNAmOyBh8z3FKAuxUnnokar8OtBz3dE3o=s0-d)
took a decidedly different approach and succeeded thanks to its classic character-driven Hitchcockian and Hawksian adventure roots that spring-boarded into a pitch-perfect blend of old meets new Hollywood sophistication.
After reuniting
Vanilla Sky![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tJO5Y4B29QgLnlaIxwW2OplJYE_weK6Oqh0dzchGsj1GwwUeoOcnXslW4ZZCr129vVj0D60K-9GPQCy_V8gQaufmtfZLOQKXXM8FAWgUHBvRc2QjA-jOZ5_z3NQI45_TmVPvmPd5t3I0-bzalc14S2yngEhiozaCzdCrvSw0Ga6ssuHBg=s0-d)
actors Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruise – both of whom needed a hit badly – consummate filmmaker James Mangold used the same techniques he’d employed in his western reboot
3:10 to Yuma![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uWPf1t5g4ShOdGOPjCCLXsBgV5ucXTgoaF15iyBDSx0mao6V4_1NPccZLm_N9yoc_LlqDYGKEvKFqE4sjgbfGY5epD74Nykt2lBYTgFulzUoP4YwfnZJU6zckjK0AmAW9N4OLMF1UhA6Orrq6hA71rOrZYYIvJZu2YYofSKbXcAq22yy8=s0-d)
to craft a solidly entertaining vehicle that builds first and foremost off of the magnetic star quality and chemistry of his leads.
While at times this hodgepodge of
Charade![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vxQyfUGs1fYwgiQHoAqn8oQ6hPqjUpfT2CaZdT8OW1VkUOiBAvxen1bwvIiIeM2h8J_dkySRolG8C2eNn2N1Jdy9xnxT5GzupqsHiB6lejPuiZVsDgrNKz_BozDjQru0YoZmFnSvjAgWrgfXb20xnAe3sL0yuSldRq4F2hbMBI5X-lebs=s0-d)
and
North by Northwest![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_usoGzQf6fs3TFZAxRSzvdJimyJ3Fff7EvlgghUIavAuuB3lP5tjPJGk2XmK-Iz1pwjbcHkojBn5qHAWJXr0kckV_nq4FBBvThYwxTFWjnIvKmvwrzmkOxeCUim3R41DoofYQ-G-0e04DGZ0O_P0m_ITjSxNQsc9Yixehmk9aeG1Cbi_-0=s0-d)
could’ve benefitted from more playful male/female banter and less focus on Cruise’s mind-blowing CGI-free stunt-work, Mangold backs up his likable stars every step of the way with the same
Yuma![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uWPf1t5g4ShOdGOPjCCLXsBgV5ucXTgoaF15iyBDSx0mao6V4_1NPccZLm_N9yoc_LlqDYGKEvKFqE4sjgbfGY5epD74Nykt2lBYTgFulzUoP4YwfnZJU6zckjK0AmAW9N4OLMF1UhA6Orrq6hA71rOrZYYIvJZu2YYofSKbXcAq22yy8=s0-d)
like dedication to constantly blur genre lines with the ultimate goal of maximizing audience enjoyment.
Slickly executed and constantly reinventing,
Knight and Day![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tCtFowDh40M1rmsZX-2gSPaHmHdLYpRXqMf3DXR-fuG0csykJICVKJOusIqdoNLQK48_dqBMwhniDS-K1odCsiAjcd-NyXEN285ahJw6VSvvfBa60V8r8ryzRZ07VkuVDjvTrz5pz2fiMfsobNAmOyBh8z3FKAuxUnnokar8OtBz3dE3o=s0-d)
rivets on Fox Blu-ray, jolting you nearly off the edge of your couch cushion with a home theatre performance that rivals the big screen as Cruise takes a cue from Jackie Chan, using every airplane prop at his disposal to take out a murderous crew before crash-landing in the field below.
Moreover, it’s the type of sexy comedic jet-setting action vehicle that tragically Hollywood just doesn’t make anymore of tentative couples who redefine themselves and their relationships in mind-boggling circumstances.
And although their blink-and-you’ve-missed-it kisses lack the passion promised by their seductive banter, we’re easily charmed from the moment Diaz’s beautiful Boston tomboy meets Cruise’s enigmatic, figuratively shape-shifting man of action only to find herself whisked away on a dangerous adventure of a lifetime.
While you’d be best advised not to pay too close attention to the way it stretches suspension-of-disbelief slightly past its breaking point at times given a few implausible holes and convenient connections, this tale of strangers who meet outside a plane and on a train, highway, motorcycle, helicopter and more is a ride well-worth taking.
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FTC Disclosure: Per standard professional practice, I received a review copy of this title in order to evaluate it for my readers, which had no impact whatsoever on whether or not it received a favorable or unfavorable critique.