Director: James Mangold.
Year: 2010
Rating: * * *
It’s hard to recall the last time I had such fun watching a silly, yet an entertaining movie. The movie has a threadbare excuse for a plot, but it successfully navigates around that loophole; thanks to its breezy execution, some over-the-top action sequences, and amazingly, Tom Cruise.
Tom Cruise plays Roy Miller, a CIA agent gone rogue, currently on a mission that involves safeguarding an invention and the inventor from falling into some dirty hands; from both on the side of the law and beyond it. The prized-possession in question is a perpetual battery that packs in enough power to light up a small city forever. While he’s on his way to meet with the inventor, Roy bumps into June Havens (Cameron Diaz) and unwittingly, involves her in the thick of action and hair-raising sequences that’s about to ensue. With CIA agents and some baddies hot on his heels and tracking down Roy’s every move, it’s no wonder that June, too, is forcibly embroiled in this mess of a situation. Roy’s charm and smooth-talking demeanor doesn’t fail to leave a romantic impression on June, but only to be put to doubt once he reveals his true calling and identity. Hesitant at first, June soon takes a liking to Roy’s fatal and nail-biting adventures, while being lugged along over half the globe and through many precarious situations.
There were a handful of set-pieces that stood out, despite its implausible nature. One of them was the introductory combat between Roy and at least 10 individuals that were onboard a flight. He takes every one of them out in a jiffy, without even breaking a sweat. The moves were as smooth as hot knife on butter, and Tom Cruise pulled it off as better as anyone else could’ve. There were some good chase sequences, too, both on bike and car; reminiscent of the Bourne series. Hell, there was even a foot-chase over the slanting rooftops of an Austrian neighborhood, a la, Bourne Ultimatum. More such sequences adorn the whole movie, and you never realize how time just flies by. Granted, that it’s not the grittier stuff that one would normally associate such elusive-agent-gone-rogue sort of escapism (credit goes to the immensely brilliant Bourne Trilogy), but the movie has its moments; a lot of them, actually.
Barring some rare movies like Minority Report, Collateral, etc., I haven’t really been a fan of Tom’s movies. I really don’t remember the last time I truly enjoyed his movies as much as I did this one. He was just not the Tom Cruise you’d normally picture as. He carried a Bond-esque panache with Bourne’s agility and combat chops, but also peppered it with a subtle, tongue-in-cheek humor. No matter how dangerous the situation he always found himself in, he always had enough time to seamlessly integrate his amusing banters and quips. It was just too much fun to watch and I enjoyed every bit of it. Cameron Diaz, too, gave Tom Cruise superb company. Floundering at the start, but soon starting to follow in Roy’s footsteps, Cameron beamed with innocence and charm. Letting Roy’s influence rub off on her, Cameron smoothly switched gears from the unsuspecting customer to a capable ass-kicking lady of sorts. There was amazing chemistry between the two leads and they had the whole damn movie to play with it; and they did a marvelous job.
With all the aforesaid praises, I don’t see a reason why one should miss such an entertaining fare. Yes, the concept is far-fetched, but once you overlook this transgression, the movie is one heck of a ride. A captivating and an unconventional performance from Tom, with great inputs from Cameron as well, and ample of breakneck-speed action, it’s got all the ingredients that typical Hollywood action movies are supposed to have. Just go in without any hopes for a serious plot, and you’ll come out as a satisfied viewer.
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