Knight & Day

Directed By: James Mangold

Written By: Patrick O’Neil

Starring: Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Peter Sarsgaard, Viola Davis, and Paul Dano

Director of Photography: Phedon Papamichael, Editors: Quincy Gunderson and Michael McCusker, Production Designer: Andrew Menzies, Original Music: John Powell

Rated: PG-13 for sequences of action violence throughout, and brief strong language.

    The last time Tom Cruise showed up on the big screen, he was in a fat suit and bald, yelling profanities and breaking out of his usual pretty boy role. In Knight & Day, his first outing since Tropic Thunder, he’s back being pretty, but brings some of that comedy, as well as a romance, filled by the body of Cameron Diaz. And everything is in place here in the film directed by James Mangold—big action set pieces, hot bodies, and a few funny jokes. So why does Knight & Day feel so boring?

    It’s a shame, because the premise of the film, penned by Patrick O’Neil, is a little unique. By a chance of fate, young and attractive caricature June (Ms. Diaz) meets Roy Miller (Mr. Cruise), on a plane. They flirt a little, but when she goes to the bathroom, Roy had displaced every one of the flight’s other passengers, all who have tried to kill him. From there, Roy keeps grabbing June, dragging her from place to place against her will, as he tries to save the world, while she thinks he’s just crazy. Which is he? There’s where the fun could be, but the film is too formulaic to try and fool us with something so ridiculous. Mr. Cruise can’t actually turn out to be a bad guy…he’s Tom Cruise! He can’t be crazy…or at least not on the screen.

    Having grown up with Mr. Cruise’s films, I have always enjoyed seeing him jump and fly through the air with guns blasting. Yet in Knight & Day, he’s so passive for much of the film, almost going through the motions. This is supposed to be his safe territory, and Hollywood used to be able to depend on him for these roles, yet Mr. Cruise is best when he breaking his own rules, whether in films like Magnolia, Born on the Fourth of July, and even Tropic Thunder. Ms. Diaz, who I cannot recall seeing her in a film for at least three or four years, is nothing more than a body to keep us watching. Her character is so simplistic—we are given the smallest of details about her character, and nothing really to identify with her, except she is not blasting guns.

    The film is one set piece after another—dialogue, action sequence, new location: rinse and repeat—throughout, and so it easily runs out of steam quickly. By the time some real plot development—propelled by a lazy MacGuffin—I had already checked out of the film. Knight & Day could have taken risks here or there. We’ve seen this summer that the better films are those that take risks, and unfortunately Knight & Day thinks that sticking to the script is what will keep up enjoyed. We’ve seen every kind of explosion. We’ve seen every joke. Of course, they will end driving away in the sunset. Don’t be afraid Hollywood. It’s ok to give Mr. Cruise some risks. We’ll be more interested, and you’ll get the cash you think we deserve.