THE HITMAN'S BODYGUARD review

THE HITMAN'S BODYGUARD

 starring Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson 

 directed by Patrick Hughes

 A review by Helen J. Reynolds
The Hitman's Bodyguard is a calculating comedy involving fascist governments, killer romance and cars that smell like arse. 

 Ryan Reynolds plays Michael, a self-named Triple A protector for the rich cats whose successful career takes a nosedive after a client ends up with his brains splattered over a plane window. That one didn't go quite to plan...

 Plan B sees him roped into protecting a witness for the trial against dictator Vladislav Dukhovich (the very excellent Gary Oldman). But the witness isn't just any witness, he's Samuel L. Jackson, here playing Darius Kincaid, a renowned assassin doing hard time.

 There's nothing revolutionary in the plotting of this comedy, but there are some great jokes. The romance between Jackson and Salma Hayek (playing his wife) is easily the best part of the movie. It gives Jackson the heart his character needs and heightens the ridiculous nature of many of their scenes. 

 On the flip side, the romance between Reynolds and his love interest (Amelia, played by Elodie Yung) has little to inspire. It's difficult to care that there's been some miscommunication in the past, when they spend a good five minutes near the beginning of the film shouting what needs to happen in the plot. Basically, Reynolds with: I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS THING AND I DON'T TRUST YOU and Amelia responding: WELL, YOU HAVE TO BECAUSE THIS IS A MOVIE AND I'LL MAKE YOU 'TRIPLE A' AGAIN BY THE END. The idea that viewers are supposed to swallow this down and for some reason wish these characters would stop caring about their careers and care about each other again, is weak to say the least.
The real dynamic that I should be talking about, and which the film heavily promotes, is the one between Reynolds and Jackson. Two guys; one a criminal, the other a protector, forced to work together for the greater good (i.e. ending a dictatorship). This odd coupling is the movie's selling point, and yet I have very little to say about it. Both actors are great comedy actors but Jackson by far gets the more interesting, believable role. Reynolds is left as just the guy Jackson bounces off and could have been played by just about anyone.

 It's a shame, as the film has a lot of potential. The beginning sets up Gary Oldman as a real villain (not just such cardboard cut-out of one), and there's really nothing wrong with the story - it's been done before, but so what? A good double-act was needed but all we get is Jackson being reliably funny and Reynolds lost in a boring character.

 Hollywood makes a lazy formula, thinking to add a bit of Deadpool with a bit of Pulp Fiction and a winner is guaranteed. In reality, all it guarantees is unoriginal work and a film without a centre. 

 A combination of:
Rush Hour (1998)
Mr and Mrs Smith (2005)
In Bruges (2008)

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