“Knight and Day” follows in the footsteps of romantic action comedy inspired by “Charade” and “Romancing the Stone” with a boost of death-defying action far more than it really needs. What boosted this James Mangold feature though is the natural comic relief offered by the team-up of Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz.
Cruise proves to be a delightful presence in his roles. Despite all the action and commotion in the surroundings, he remains the calm amidst the storm keeping things light. Though the story is nearing towards absurdity, he manages to keep it stable and watchable for viewers to still enjoy. His portrayal in this film shows a different side of him people rarely see. Instead of the usual serious and disciplined actor most viewers are used to seeing of him on-screen, here Cruise innate goofiness comes out. His calm demeanour complements Diaz’s panicky nature in an odd and interesting fashion.
Meanwhile, Diaz hasn’t always struck gold whether in serious roles or as a comedian. But for several times now, she had presented solid performances thanks to remarkable scripts such as in the case of “Being John Malkovich” and “There’s Something About Mary”. “Knight and Day” will be another addition to one of those roles where she shines through. Though their romantic chemistry is in question, Diaz’s antics match perfectly with Cruise to produce consistent harmonious laughter and thrills.
Overall, “Knight and Day” is as entertaining as can be but the film holds great room for improvement. The beginning starts of happily before being dragged down after an hour and so. Luckily, the finale gains back the momentum to appeal once more to the audience for a final straw before the credits roll in.