Samuel L. Jackson and Ryan Reynolds play two completely different personalities having to stick it out in the action comedy The Hitman’s Bodyguard. Film Comments examines if The Hitman’s Bodyguard is worth your time in The Hitman’s Bodyguard film review.
Michael Bryce (Ryan Reynolds), a disgraced executive bodyguard has to unwillingly escort to The Hague his longtime foe, hitman Darius Kincaid (Samuel L. Jackson), where the latter is going to testify against Vladislav Dukhovic (Gary Oldman), who is facing charges of genocide. En route from England to the Nederlands, there are several car chases and a speedboat chase through the waterways of Amsterdam.
Even though the screenplay is somewhat predictable, there are enough thrills to keep you riveted to the screen. Also, the unlikely bond that the two lead characters strike up is genuinely engaging. There are moments when you feel that The Hitman’s Bodyguard is getting a bit sloppy but right then it picks up. As the audience watches Bryce try and come to terms with his past, Kincaid shows him how he can make his present better by letting go of his past.
That’s as much soul you can expect from an action comedy. The Hitman’s Bodyguard is, at times, hilarious, while at others, it just about manages to hit the right emotional notes. Not an easy feat for a film of this genre. That’s not saying that this movie is a classic. Far from it, there are moments when you find yourself wandering away from the action on screen, especially during the first half. The movie has a runtime of almost two hours, and for that long a duration it is not easy to keep the audiences focused without losing them now and then. There are multiple action sequences, and even though each one has its distinct touch, at times, it can get a bit too much for the uninitiated. Also, not all of it is equally engaging.
All the actors have played their roles rather well. However, the star of the show has to be Samuel L. Jackson. As the carefree hitman, he is the showstopper. Whenever he is on screen, he just steals the scene. Salma Hayek playing his better half is quite good too. She has some punchy dialogues and is on song here. The charismatic Ryan Reynolds playing the executive bodyguard who has to prove that he has still got what it takes to be among the best has the toughest role to execute and does so effectively. And then there is Gary Oldman as the ruthless dictator. He plays the badass flawlessly, and by the end of the movie, you want him knocked out.
The film score is good, but honestly, it could have been much better. There is a scene where Jackson meets Salma Hayek at a bar, which perfectly illustrates how the score can enhance the atmosphere. It is also one of the better scenes in the movie apart from the many action sequences involving Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson.
If you want to see above-average action comedy with plenty of thrills and some hard-hitting dialogues, The Hitman’s Bodyguard is the one for you. Don’t expect too much from it and you will be pleasantly surprised.
The Hitman’s Bodyguard film review gives The Hitman’s Bodyguard 3.5 out of 5
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