Allied

Allied is another unfortunate mis-step that has seemed all too common this year. What appears a brilliant concept: a couple meet in the midst of the Second World War whilst deep in enemy territory undercover as fake husband and wife before becoming married for real. Then, husband is told his wife may be a German spy (an undercover spy posing as an undercover spy to make things mega confusing) and he has 24 hours to prove she isn't or execute her. A WW2 Mr And Mrs Smith, if you will.

It's set up for mega-tension but, unfortunately, it just doesn't deliver any. The period setting is luscious (particularly the early scenes in Casablanca) but at no point in the two-hour run time are you poised at the edge of your seat, biting your fingernails.

Robert Zemeckis has all the cards in his hand: a great track record, two A-list stars, a great setting and concept but just decides to fold his hand instead of deliver what should be one of the year's best Blockbusters.

Marion Cotillard is the one shining light; equally smouldering and deadly and just perfectly on the line for the 'is she, isn't she' concept but she's let down a little by the usually-immaculate Brad Pitt. He seems a little off-colour here, perhaps the headlines surrounding him have taken their toll, but his usual charisma is just not on show. Pitt could make the proverbial phone book interesting so can never be truly bad but, in what should be a demanding role, you can tell the difference.

He gets a cracking midway scene where the premise, what should be the 'twist' of the piece, is revealed to him but, as this information was plastered all over the trailer, it doesn't come as the shock it should. That there are no proper reveals that follow is, frankly, unacceptable with the ending particularly dreadful.

A real disappointment, by all means a good Sunday night watch but not anywhere near as good as it could, and should, have been.

2 stars **