Chemistry is an important part of a film’s success. If
the leads fail to gel as a believable team, a movie can quickly sink.
Whether it is romance, drama, comedy or action, chemistry plays a huge role in
driving the story along which ‘The Hitman’s Bodyguard’ highlights. With
the ever breezy Ryan Reynolds and the consistently bad-ass Samuel L Jackson as
leads, ‘The Hitman’s Bodyguard’ already has much going for it. It needs
to as their presence enlivens a very predictable screenplay with a plot failing
to match their spirited performances.
Michael Bryce (Ryan Reynolds) is an in-demand bodyguard whose skills are second to none. After a case goes horribly wrong, his reputation is in tatters. When enlisted to protect notorious hitman Darius Kincaid (Samuel L Jackson), Bryce enthusiastically accepts. Seizing the chance to salvage his ruined career, Bryce gradually learns why Kincaid needs protection. Having information that could put evil dictator Vladislav (Gary Oldman) in jail for life, Kincaid is a wanted man. When Vladislav sends an army of killers on their trail, Bryce and Kincaid form a reluctant partnership in order to survive.
A word that could describe ‘The Hitman’s Bodyguard’ is ‘bland’. Whilst Jackson and Reynolds deliver rousing performances and the action is incredible, the script is banal. Those who haven’t seen an action movie in the last decade may be surprised by its revelations, although others may get a sense of déjà vu. Director Patrick Hughes tries hard putting flair into the by the numbers screenplay, but even his enthusiasm can’t hide the overlong film’s general ho-hum nature.
‘The Hitman’s Bodyguard’ thrives on its action scenes. They are incredibly realised and use the foreign locales well. The stunt-work gone into creating these sequences is amazing with the performers giving them their all. The banter between Jackson and Reynolds is great even if tonally the film is all over the place. The minor exploration of the nature of good and evil gives things vague depth but generally the plot gives way to the action which is its main asset.
Michael Bryce (Ryan Reynolds) is an in-demand bodyguard whose skills are second to none. After a case goes horribly wrong, his reputation is in tatters. When enlisted to protect notorious hitman Darius Kincaid (Samuel L Jackson), Bryce enthusiastically accepts. Seizing the chance to salvage his ruined career, Bryce gradually learns why Kincaid needs protection. Having information that could put evil dictator Vladislav (Gary Oldman) in jail for life, Kincaid is a wanted man. When Vladislav sends an army of killers on their trail, Bryce and Kincaid form a reluctant partnership in order to survive.
A word that could describe ‘The Hitman’s Bodyguard’ is ‘bland’. Whilst Jackson and Reynolds deliver rousing performances and the action is incredible, the script is banal. Those who haven’t seen an action movie in the last decade may be surprised by its revelations, although others may get a sense of déjà vu. Director Patrick Hughes tries hard putting flair into the by the numbers screenplay, but even his enthusiasm can’t hide the overlong film’s general ho-hum nature.
‘The Hitman’s Bodyguard’ thrives on its action scenes. They are incredibly realised and use the foreign locales well. The stunt-work gone into creating these sequences is amazing with the performers giving them their all. The banter between Jackson and Reynolds is great even if tonally the film is all over the place. The minor exploration of the nature of good and evil gives things vague depth but generally the plot gives way to the action which is its main asset.
Having genuinely funny moments and plenty of colourful
pizazz, ‘The Hitman’s Bodyguard’ is silly hokum. It isn’t that memorable
and could have benefitted with copious editing. For a ‘no-brain’ action
comedy, it achieves its target and is dopey fun if you like no-frills thrills.
Movie Review by Patrick Moore
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Patrick Moore's Movie Review is an alternative look at movie releases in Australia.
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