That’s right, and who wouldn’t want a Bodyguard made up of a delicious concoction of caustic sarcasm, drop dead good looks, Deadpool moves and a body that most would want to guard for themselves? Well, maybe Samuel L Jackson wouldn’t necessarily, but he doesn’t really count, does he?
However, if I were to employ a bodyguard, and in this case, I’d dearly love to have this one, I’d be speaking, of course, of the infamously famous Ryan Reynolds as bodyguard extraordinaire Michael Bryce in the HITMAN’S BODYGUARD!
From the opening scene at the airport to the closing scene at The Hague, you’ll find yourself gleefully giggling, hanging off the edge of a cliff of excitement and swallowed up in, if somewhat of a predictable, love story of sorts. Car chases, boat races, blow ups and madcap banter move this fast-paced adventure to it’s final destination: mortal enemies become best friends. Who knew?
Poorly rated on Rotten Tomatoes, I’m not sure the “Tomatoes” have the greatest sense of humor or a desire to simply be entertained without thinking too much in regard to the Hitman’s Bodyguard. Besides, they may not be as enamored of Ryan Reynolds as I am. Whatever.
Samuel L. Jackson and his m&#*#@ f*%@!’n mouth does get a little tedious, however, it’s par for his course and expected. He wouldn’t be Samuel L. Jackson without it. He doesn’t disappoint. What’s unexpected is the show-stealing appearance of the Latin beauty and equally foul-mouthed, albeit in Spanish, Salma Hayek, as Samuel Jackson’s (Darius Kinkaid’s) imprisoned, angry and volatile wife, Sonia. She certainly adds the spicy hot sauce to the pairing and I found her a refreshing and unexpected bite to the movie. I could have had another helping.
Ryan Reynolds as Bryce, in his classic, superior sarcasm that we’ve come to know and love is simply striking in his portrayal of a disgruntled bodyguard coerced by his Interpol-agent-up-for-promotion-ex-girlfriend Amelia (Elodie Yung) into guarding a hitman (Jackson) who had once taken sniper aim at him, (Reynolds), a once high-powered bodyguard.
Darius has to get to The Hague safely within 24 hours to testify against a war criminal, Vladislav Dukhovich (Gary Oldman) and of course, although he can handle himself, (hitman), he’s in Bryce’s competent custody, and Bryce takes his obligation very seriously, even if he doesn’t like it or Darius. Vlad meanwhile, has incorporated an army of assassins to take out Kinkaid no matter the cost, and has an insider reporting every move before Bryce and Kinkaid can make it.
Bryce and Kinkaid embark on their journey to the Hauge plagued by evil doers around every corner, and because they’ve been thrown together in a slow-moving junker of a stolen car, several, in fact, the embattled Darius, intrigued by Bryce’s willingness to protect him, is compelled to school Bryce on how to win his ex-girlfriend back, since he himself, Darius, has such a resounding relationship with Sonia and can speak to love with some expertise on the subject, much to Bryce’s chagrin.
In route to The Hague, however, Kinkaid and Bryce encounter a multitude of obstacles, a plethora of murderers, forced to embark on multiple mobile pursuits and skiff flips, and entertain us throughout with rousing repartee, engaging in a hateful relationship that, as luck and the script would have it, turns out to be a predictable bromance of the highest caliber.
So a few “Tomatoes” get thrown, I for one loved this “HITMAN’s BODYGUARD”! Will I buy it?
Of Course. Everyone needs a Bodyguard!
