Killers

Spencer Aimes (Kutcher) is just your average, undercover, government-hired super-assassin accustomed to a life of exotic European locales, flashy sports cars and even flashier women. But when he meets Jen Kornfeldt (Heigl), a beautiful, fun-loving computer tech recovering from a bad break-up, he finds true love, and happily trades international intrigue for domestic bliss. Three years later, Spencer and Jen are still enjoying a picture-perfect marriage - that is, until the morning after Spencer's 30th birthday. That's when Spencer and Jen learn he's the target of a multi-million dollar hit. Even worse, the hired killers have been stalking the happy couple for years, and could be anyone: friends, neighbours, the grocery store clerk. Now Spencer and Jen are on the run for their lives. As their suburban paradise turns into a paranoid game of dodge-the-bullet, they must find out who wants Spencer dead and why, all the while trying to save their marriage, manage the in-laws, keep up neighbourly appearances... and just plain survive.

Ashton Kutcher is rather good here, delivering a fine performance as the assassin lulled into a false sense of security by the love of a good woman. Essentially Mr and Mrs Smith done as knockabout comedy, Killers is an amusing romp: action-packed and thrilling on the one hand, and rather sweet and romantic on the other. Katherine Heigl continues her ascent as Hollywood star, delivering an admirable comic turn here. As is often the case with these films, however, the supporting cast are where the true comic gold resides, with Tom Selleck and Catherine O'Hara leaving their dignity at the door in the name of humour. Exciting, funny and romantic, Killers is terrific fun, if you can ignore the unlikelihood of someone as stupid as Ashton Kutcher ever being hired as an assassin.

Greg Frame