A box office bomb upon release,
Knight and Day![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_t8LdtAEWQIWfvBmReqto-HwuJXyzWoCfAcssbyFNKjLopqHAe-ZSl823iimhe1Gq2c229t_Qka4ZgO_wei0L7APmjYvl-cou1ybt6LMNpzydD81dXP_SVvDsnLTnLMcHCCVF1GUCG9E5LAxUQtFHEGEF-U0jXuyG1c8yNMNdC3zAjSXOI=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_uiLUHIsz5Ulvjm91XmAv5cMdtFrQ5uTWnR2U12Cjm-hRWLQPVi_r7SUXzqD_oetvR1GNJZrXXqHqYDcBvoxprXQa7rc9RUWp71Mcp9PnYVA1X4Jej3CuF_M4FrA9gRivjHhvuMMsMZdS9iSiANDhEKDkYmzYxzmGMNAUyfb57d3nf3Qw=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_uiLUHIsz5Ulvjm91XmAv5cMdtFrQ5uTWnR2U12Cjm-hRWLQPVi_r7SUXzqD_oetvR1GNJZrXXqHqYDcBvoxprXQa7rc9RUWp71Mcp9PnYVA1X4Jej3CuF_M4FrA9gRivjHhvuMMsMZdS9iSiANDhEKDkYmzYxzmGMNAUyfb57d3nf3Qw=s0-d)
took most of its inspiration from Doug Liman’s
Mr. & Mrs. Smith![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_viWnBtrHbJcr3W7Hq4KkixO6demgMEHuYjJ9P2eZRvKPv3DMkE4ojzhTNuIrnwKsH-fctjqGC0581k7_SCbK-EBmsnFzWVgdJJklLaHtvo2P0FPU_NlntEr5sm6Yw7YHCEI2kTXlNEOKtJyhvZn_u0ZMwFkgGvUeiPEFn3wOCZwVQrvw=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_t8LdtAEWQIWfvBmReqto-HwuJXyzWoCfAcssbyFNKjLopqHAe-ZSl823iimhe1Gq2c229t_Qka4ZgO_wei0L7APmjYvl-cou1ybt6LMNpzydD81dXP_SVvDsnLTnLMcHCCVF1GUCG9E5LAxUQtFHEGEF-U0jXuyG1c8yNMNdC3zAjSXOI=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_uD-bn_MBOwuMn7L4nuD_avgxjhqQLM3OSPoiADT9IorUcQwS3Es_RwFQNWib_pxJmhhGod147juEMhaVzpCHLaNeO4Gx7LMWI88wQMygLoyzk10oFFBPX3BMHCU_xO97A3ZPLmmerEnJNgqgQqV4upXCFqfa_m-5Fu3H64NMNMw25Y-W0=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_s8rrDZliAjjtXfUP0qSguDOFVHjtwaVfx6vJ_1U1xPj-cbI1XTZKnb2ZNebdtfXRuJUXlEj1h-aV8CKDTVWtofzUluYLDkOwyfAVx_0tqTuqNBI8mSLnU4mDUrqg9H5iebXkZmyXE4NkWzj9axQ5FSKUG5YvFYdCJM14d5xLChb1-CwnY=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_vLzFVxhTr8hZHUwI9H51UH-j22HgeEhXe8e0wj24YzBbLAgf70X4vyThAlPOpueCb130n_aLX7qjK-fta1ydFqdHQxdGawg-NwxRPFJxPpqHb-Z4L3wX-8HM62ExyMatk7O_vopQy0xmEoawLIxKELquBDNXZFXFyJVIixS8cMkIej2y8=s0-d)
and
North by Northwest![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vpnX5KuLqsqMGWR3UVylPEW9HSqG1gk_1DySuC9KLxZBkCXmvl9oFHh6HU0lmr4h0-K6oBx3DXhDZeI4fCkoe2fNlxWUGochKj0bdsnJn8K5G1gGgRKugtAL8hw5or6kwizWSfYpOYEAA63KozRNwzxaw-XYPotuCMptPDnMOgh4_FV6U=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_s8rrDZliAjjtXfUP0qSguDOFVHjtwaVfx6vJ_1U1xPj-cbI1XTZKnb2ZNebdtfXRuJUXlEj1h-aV8CKDTVWtofzUluYLDkOwyfAVx_0tqTuqNBI8mSLnU4mDUrqg9H5iebXkZmyXE4NkWzj9axQ5FSKUG5YvFYdCJM14d5xLChb1-CwnY=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_t8LdtAEWQIWfvBmReqto-HwuJXyzWoCfAcssbyFNKjLopqHAe-ZSl823iimhe1Gq2c229t_Qka4ZgO_wei0L7APmjYvl-cou1ybt6LMNpzydD81dXP_SVvDsnLTnLMcHCCVF1GUCG9E5LAxUQtFHEGEF-U0jXuyG1c8yNMNdC3zAjSXOI=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.