KILLERS

US, 2010, 93 minutes, Colour.
Ashton Kutcher, Katherine Heigl, Tom Selleck, Catherine O’ Hara, Martin Mull.
Directed by Robert Luketic.

Killers! Mr and Mrs Smith, Knight and Day. There are several precedents for Killers – which is less spectacular than Knight and Day but just as far-fetched and even more absurd, but at suburban level.

Ashton Kutcher looking buffed and burley is Spencer, a spy who wants out, especially when he encounters holidaying Jen (Katherine Heigl) in Nice (where he is about to blow up a helicopter). Romance ensues. Unfortunately, she was soundly asleep when he confesses his profession, so it is more than a surprise to her when, after three years of marriage, his boss contacts him again, is found dead in a hotel, and, suddenly, all the neighbours are out to kill Spencer. The last part of the film is a whopping neighbourhood watch assassination attempt that does defy belief.

With Tom Selleck as Jen’s rather buttoned up, former pilot, father trying to protect her and Catherine O’ Hara as her critical mother, nice but in her cups most of the time, there are some amusing moments. Katherine Heigl does a variation on the screen persona that has stood her well recently (Knocked Up, 27 Dresses, The Ugly Truth) and Ashton Kutcher is radiating charm that may or may not attract its targets.

Robert Luketic directs comedies with vigour (Legally Blonde, Monster-in-Law) but all he has to do here is to keep the romantic fluff moving and film the action with pace that might make it momentarily believable.

1. A romantic comedy? 21st century screwball? Parallel universe – and absurdly farfetched?

2. The plausibility, the farcical aspects, especially in the culmination, more than an absurd touch?

3. The American settings, the quiet American town, homes, the building site, very neat suburbia and streets, block parties? Audiences identifying with the location?

4. The introduction in Nice, its beauty, exotic touches, the old city, hotels and restaurants, the sea? Romantic vacationing spot? Audiences not normally in Nice?

5. The special effects and stunts, in Nice itself, the helicopter explosion, the chases, the assassination attempts, the fights?

6. The title and the ironies? Spencer and Jen? The neighbours?

7. The introduction to Jen’s family, the father and Tom Selleck’s style? The pilot, protecting his daughter, being exact? Catherine O’Hara’s? comedy as the mother, her drinking, critique of her daughter? Jen as put-upon, dumped, the parents’ comments, the rooms and protection?

8. Katherine Heigl as Jen, with her parents, being dumped, her efficiency at work, Spencer in the lift, following him, nervous, agreeing to go out with him, early at the restaurant, buying the new dress, the tag, ducking under the table because of her parents, the conversation there, at home, getting out of the dress?

9. Spencer and his job, Ashton Kutcher credible as the spy? The introduction, arrival in Nice, his partner, the double deals? The job, meeting Jen, going swimming, on the boat, the explosive on the helicopter? His return, telling Jen the story of his work and she asleep? Falling in love with her? Meeting his boss, wanting to get out of espionage?

10. The transition to three years of marriage, the happy couple, Jen and her job, her boss, the briefing and the need to go to San Francisco? Going home, the surprise birthday party, worrying about Spencer?

11. Spencer and his job, meeting the neighbours, Harry and his jokes, the surprise party? Harry and the sleepover, his vulgarity, the surprise of his attack?

12. The contact with his boss, Mr Kornfeldt and his seeing the message? Spencer and his search, finding the corpse of his boss? Going home, Harry and his waking up, the fight, his death, the chase? The girl at the office and her attack? All the neighbours and their joining in the attack? The amount of the bounty?

13. Jen going to the airport, her return, the truth, her reaction? Spencer’s protection, her being upset and leaving? The return, saving Spencer?

14. The absurdity of the situation, every neighbour involved, in the house, upstairs, the different friends? The block party and the attempts?

15. Mr Kornfeldt, the confrontation, shooting? The truth about his being a spy? Mrs Kornfeldt and her taking everything in her stride – and with a drink? The final sorting out of the issues, the promises – and a happy ending?