After losing his career as a AAA-rated bodyguard for hire, Michael Bryce (Ryan Reynolds) is called upon by his ex-girlfriend Amelia Roussel (Elodie Yung) to protect prolific hitman, and witness in an upcoming trial at the International Court of Justice, Darius Kincaid (Samuel L. Jackson) so that he may testify. Kincaid also happens to be Bryce’s longtime rival. In avoiding the killers sent by Belarussian President Vladislav Dukhovich (Gary Oldman) to kill Kincaid, he and Bryce find they have a lot in common.
The Hitman’s Bodyguard was a pleasant surprise; a sort of throwback to 80s and 90s buddy cop movies that have fallen by the wayside with the rise of superhero movies. The film is driven completely by Jackson and Reynolds’ chemistry and comedic timing, chock full of funny, inappropriate jokes coupled with pretty good action sequences. Salma Hayek almost completely steals the show as Kincaid’s wife Sonia; playing against type as a lethal, tough, foul-mouthed criminal.
Despite the action and the comedy, the movie did attempt to include some levity with a subplot surrounding love, both Bryce’s repressed love for his ex Roussel, and Kincaid’s lasting love for his wife. Kincaid’s willingness to sacrifice himself to keep her safe and the recognition and encouragement he gives Bryce to pursue his for Roussel mostly worked and never came off as too cheesy or insincere. Both love stories are well told through hilarious flashbacks that both entertain and explain while flowing well within the larger story.
The Hitman’s Bodyguard is a fun, date night kind of movie that will supply laughs and an overall good time. Some of the action in the third act does drag on for slightly long but, the good attributes the film supplies, as well as being a return to a sub-genre that has been absent in film for a little while, helps it to overcome its flaws. The movie is an enjoyable experience that I wouldn’t mind seeing a sequel to so that we may catch a glimpse into Bryce, Kessel, and the Kincaids’ future adventures.
Image: Lionsgate
