Killers

From director Robert Luketic, the filmmaker behind such romantic comedies including “The Ugly Truth,” “Win a Date with Tad Hamilton,” and “Legally Bloinde” comes the action infused comedy “Killers” starring Katherine Heigl and Ashton Kutcher. In the film [Katherine] Heigl stars as Jen Kornfeldt, a neurotic woman fixated on the idea of one day finding true love. While on an Italian vacation with her parents, Jen meets and falls in love with Spenser Aimes (Ashton Kutcher). Years later after making their own acquaintance in Italy, Jen and Spenser now a suburban married couple finds their lives somewhat lacking in happiness. Things become more complicated in their marriage when Spensors former self (a government spy) catches up with them and the married couple is forced on the run from assassins allotted to kill them. Now on the run Jen and Spensor must fight for their lives while trying to sort through their own marital troubles.

A cross between “True Lies” and “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” “Killers” has all the makings for a film whose base and plotline is all but second hand. Consequently the film isn’t as bad as one might think. Sure there is a complete lack of originality within the contents of the film. “Killers” manages though to be an entertaining film that’ll satisfy those audiences seeking out a movie that is harmless and cheeky. Together with convincingly amusing performances by [Ashton] Kutcher and [Katherine] Heigl “Killers” becomes more of a comedic exercise that is very fitting more mainstream audiences. I think it’s safe to say this was the sort of film that was designed to entertain not to emotionally connect.

Co-written by Ted Griffin, who co-penned the scripts for the “Oceans 11” remake and 2003’s “Matchstick Men” “Killers” does offer audiences the reward of a screenplay filled with proficient dialogue. From a personal standpoint so much of what hurts movies is the lack there of dialogue that functions appropriately but also sounds legitimate. [Ted] Griffin has always had a way with words and “Killers” is no different but at the same time it’s tricky to differentiate what was his (Griffins) contribution considering he was working off of a script that was pre-written by Bob DeRosa. In either case because of the screenwriters on hand “Killers” still works as a film enriched with tailored dialogue that’s witty enough for the material on hand.

“Killers” isn’t at all a bad film, mediocre at best. The film could’ve benefitted from more in some areas of freshness but with the film’s stars on sight and director Robert Luketic at the directing helm “Killers” takes aim and fires with great effort. Even though the film may not be on target “Killers” still manages to get across some hits of comedy that are rousingly enjoyable.