KNIGHT AND DAY - The most fun movie of the summer?

It's a bit weird to describe a film starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz as something of a sleeper.  But in a summer filled with mind bending films, super hero capers and testosterone action movies, that's exactly what it is.  Knight and Day, directed by James Mangold of Copland and Walk The Line Fame, flew in under the radar.  A globe trotting spy caper, it may just be the most flat out enjoyable movie of the summer.  This is not a great piece of art, nor will it change your outlook in life, but it is ridiculously entertaining.

The story follow June Haven, a thirty-something mechanic shop owner.  About to board a flight home to her sister's wedding, she bumps into the mysterious Roy Millar.  After a brief flirtation on the plane, she returns from the bathroom to find everyone on the flight dead by Roy's hand.  He claims self-defense and is able to safely land the plane.  On the ground, Roy tells her that some people are going to come after her and tell her stories of how he is a mentally deranged spy.  Of course, he tells her that this will all be lies, and assures her that he will look after her.

What follows is a plot that takes our protagonists worldwide, from Sevilla to Austria, aboard the Orient Express to the streets of Boston.  What this movie is clearly aiming for is a modern day Hitchcock spy caper.  Tom Cruise is in the Cary Grant role, and Cameron Diaz fills Eva Marie Saint's shoes.  Whilst this is not on the level of North by Northwest (though what is?), what it does, it does very well.

The action scenes are imaginative and varied.  From fistfights on a plane, to a shootout in a safehouse.  From a knife fight in the kitchen of the Orient Express to a car chase during a bullfight in Sevilla.  The best thing about this movie is that it has a sense of fun.  It doesn't take itself seriously and that's what I think sets it apart in a summer filled with angst, guilt, themes of loss and trying too hard to be cool.  The film has comedic moments, and always has a nudge and a wink at the audience.

With regards to the cast I think they do a great job.  Tom Cruise seems to be a love him or loathe him kind of actor, but I'm personally a fan.  After all of his success in the 80's and early 90's, it would have been easy for him to follow an easy route and churn out charming rom-coms and coming of age tales.  Instead he opted for challenging movies such as Magnolia, Vanilla Sky, Collateral and Born on the Fourth of July.  This is by no means a role that stretches him, but it does demonstrate why he is a movie star.  Cameron Diaz is clearly having a lot of fun as well.  The two share great chemistry, no doubt a by-product of having worked together before in Vanilla Sky.

A quick word on the cinematography.  As I say, this is a movie that supports a globe trotting plot, and the locations are cool.  It really makes you want to jump on a plane and head out to Europe for a few weeks of R&R.  The life of a movie star eh?

Overall, this was a thoroughly fun and entertaining way to pass two hours.  When the blu-ray arrives I will definitely pick it up.  In a summer that has contained such disappointments as Salt and Scott Pilgrim, this old school style of moviemaking feels like a breath of fresh air.

Until next time.......