Written by Max Landis (Chronicle, American Ultra), Mr. Right takes audiences places that films like Killers or Grosse Point Blank went before: into the heart of the rom-com, only this time, there are assassins.
Playing on Anna Kendrick’s good girl persona, the film follows Martha, as she rebounds from an unfaithful boyfriend into the arms of Francis (Rockwell). Somehow, Francis had a mental break, left the assassination business and ended up killing off those who hire him to kill other people … because killing isn’t right. Now, on the run from the government and various baddies, the two star-crossed lovers attempt to figure out how to make their relationship work while not ending up dead first.
Rockwell and Kendrick have chemistry, and Tim Roth is funny as a CIA agent who is on Francis’ trail. But outside of the relationship that seems doomed and some witty one-liners, the rest of Landis’ script suffers. We kinda sorta want the relationship to work, but Martha hasn’t proved to be that lovable, and we simply don’t know much about Francis other than that he kills people! Our protagonists simply don’t have enough substance to keep a rote plot moving forward.
In the end, it’s a nature versus nurture showdown. Will Francis be able to save them? Will love win? Or will Martha and Francis’ relationship be more cannon fodder on the altar of puppy love?
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