Review by Doug Cooper
Stars Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Peter Sarsgaard, Jordi Molla, Viola Davis, Paul David, Falk Hentschel, Marc Blucas, Lenny Loftin, Maggie Grace, Rich Manley, Dale Dye
Written by Patrick O'Neill
Certification UK 12A | US PG-13
Runtime 110 minutes
Directed by James Mangold
Knight and Day is a bright and breezy romp that never takes itself seriously - and nor should you. Ignore all those po-faced critics that have dismissed it as boring, tiresome trash - it's a fast-moving and likeable action comedy that is wholly inconsequential and good fun.
Cruise plays Roy Miller, the smooth talking secret agent who has gone rogue, out to help his unfortunate pal (Dano) and protect the plot's macguffin, a capsule that his former superiors, including renegade operative Sarsgaard, are set on acquiring. He's unwittingly accompanied in all his adventures by June Havens (Diaz), a ditsy blonde he encounters at an airport in Kansas. She initially fails to notice that he has knocked out the few passengers on their plane and ends up sharing his adventures, be that a car chase in Boston, a helicopter attack on Roy's exotic hideaway, a rooftop skirmish in Salzburg and trampling bulls in Seville.
All these action set pieces, utterly ridiculous as they are, are done with sure-footed aplomb and the two leads keep one engaged throughout. They're both completely winning and though one never feels that there's anything truly at stake in their escapades, the telling is colourful and genial enough to keep on entertained. Yes, it's disposable and quickly forgotten, but for a couple of hours it's a most agreeable way to spend your time and Cruise and Diaz are amiable company. Undemanding to be sure, but very enjoyable.