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The world’s top bodyguard gets a new client, a hit man who must testify at the International Court of Justice. They must put their differences aside and work together to make it to the trial on time.
The trailer for “The Hitman’s Bodyguard” actually got me excited. The thought of Samuel L. Jackson as a foul-mouthed assassin, and Ryan Reynolds as the bodyguard assigned to protect him until he reaches his intended location, was intriguing. But once the movie started, intrigue quickly turned to disappointment as it became apparent that it was just another buddy-buddy flick, with lots of generic explosions, car chases, and plot twists. Hell, even Gary Oldman, who plays the film’s ruthless bad guy, looks bored in his role. And that is quite an achievement. Salma Hayek gets some laughs as Jackson’s equally, if not more foul-mouthed wife Sonia and in all honesty, she was the highlight of the movie.
Reynolds plays Michael Bryce, one of the world’s top bodyguards who operates out of London. After safely transporting a client to his plane, no sooner is he in his seat than a sniper takes him out. Two years later and Michael is at the bottom of the bodyguard profession, living out of his car. Darius Kincaid (Jackson), is one of the world’s most notorious hitmen but after he and his wife are captured by Interpol, he is given the option of having his wife Sonia (Salma Hayek) released from custody if he agrees to go to the Hague and testify against Vladislav Dukhovich (Gary Oldman), a brutal and barbaric Eastern European dictator who once tried to hire him and who is also accused of killing hundreds of thousands of his own people. He reluctantly agrees, on the condition that he receive a reduced sentence himself and when everything is signed, sealed and delivered, a Special Ops team are given the assignment of taking him from London to the Hague. Michael’s ex, Amelia (Elodie Yung), is among the group but when they are attacked, and only she and Darius survive, she calls on Michael to help her out.
When he arrives, he is shocked to see Darius in her protection and both men immediately get into a fist fight as they are mortal enemies. She pulls her gun on them and breaks the fight up and informs Michael of the severity of the situation. As a favor to Amelia, he agrees to the task and both men disappear into the night but with bad guys being able to track their every move, Amelia suspects that there is a mole inside Interpol. As Michael and Darius reach Holland and edge closer and closer to the Hague, time is running out for the International Court of Justice who have Dukhovich in their custody but if Darius does not make it to the court before the end of the day to testify, he will walk free.
Sadly, “The Hitman’s Bodyguard” falls into conventional territory with every twist and turn it makes, leaving no room whatsoever for originality. The only saving grace here is the constant bickering between Reynolds and Jackson but after a while, even that begins to feel old. The action is uninspired, with a multitude of shootouts, fights, car chases, and explosions occurring all over Europe but you have seen them all before in better movies like “Skyfall,” “Hot Fuzz,” “The Bourne Ultimatum,” “Kingsman: The Secret Service” and even “Fast & Furious 6.” While Reynolds and Jackson light up the screen with their charisma and humor, it is the only aspect of the film that barely manages to keep its head above water. Unfortunately, everything else sinks to the bottom.
In theaters Friday, August 18th
