Mr. & Mrs. Smith

As with Fun With Dick and Jane, the Jim Carrey remake coming out later this month, the titles are a sardonic comment on the high adventure lives led by the plainly named. Behind the well manicured lawns, and prettily painted walls are couples with many secrets, high emotion and interesting lives. It's the contrast between the mundane and munificent that makes this type of film interesting.

We've certainly seen warring couples before. The classic is The War of the Roses, where they reach their mutual demise trying to divide the house. After years of built-up resentments, all either party wanted to do was win. There was no backing down from the relentless vengeance. No one was willing to walk away and see that that (exiting) was the win. They each became subsumed by the desire to beat the other.

With the Smiths, there's a slightly different twist. The mutually assured destruction (if you recall this is what kept us from blowing up the planet earth in the Reagan era) was actually their job. That's right, killing the spouse... it's a job, but somebody's gotta do it. I guess you only see that in the movies... huh? Come on. That's what spouses do, in real life, all the time. That's why the movies poking fun at the phenomenon are hits. We all see our own unmet desires and deeply buried feelings in their outrageously honest behavior.

I think it's a very unusual spouse that is led by a desire to see their partner grow. Most want to see their partner show.... up and be there as an adjunct to their lives: accompany them, help them, be there for them when they are needed, to do what they are needed to do. My husband left me, not because I was failing to grow and thrive, but because he was and realized I could never be the crutch he needed anymore. Americans are so trained to be materialistic, distracted and shallow, I guess it's not surprising we have such possessive attitudes about marriage.

I found Angelina Jolie's character refreshingly strong and honest. Is anyone still confused as to why Brad Pitt left his self-absorbed wife for someone who uses her considerable fame to bring attention to problems like war and starvation? Angelina had a difficult childhood, rose above it and developed a true global consciousness. She's one of the first female action stars, does everything the guys do, makes no apologies, is totally in touch with her sexuality. Unlike Jennifer Anniston who has this shrinking violet personality, Angelina is strong and honest in a fully feminine way and I find her a much better role model.