Review by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong
This summer has been lacking something that most moviegoers crave in the summer months, and that is a popcorn blockbuster. Now itās a stretch to call the R-rated Action Comedy, The Hitmanās Bodyguard a āblockbusterā but it certainly is a Popcorn Flick and an incredibly entertaining one at that. With the leads of Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L Jackson along with Salma Hayek the Movie provides the action, the laughs, and even a little bit of romance.
The Movie starts off with Michael Bryce (Ryan Reynolds) a Triple A-rated bodyguard, well that is until something happens that puts him way down the ladder and regarded as just a rather standard extraction artist. Fast-forward a few years to modern day and Michaelās ex-girlfriend, FBI member Amelia Roussel (Elodie Yung) calls him for help to protect a client, Darius Kincaid (Samuel L Jackson). Kincaid has agreed to testify against a figurative monster, Vladislav Dukhovich (Gary Oldman) and in return will be granted leniency on his sentence and his wife, Sonia (Salma Hayek) will be released. Bryce reluctantly agrees to help out his ex and protect the client, until he realizes its Kincaid who has attempted to kill him on multiple occasions. However, he does eventually accept the task and Bryce and Kincaid get into a mess of trouble on their way to the courthouse so Kincaid can testify. The question remains, can Bryce and Kincaid make it to the courthouse in time or will Dukhovich be able to stop them and walk free?
What makes The Hitmanās Bodyguard that quintessential Popcorn Flick is between all the action and ridiculousness there is some solid character development and performances. While Reynolds and Jackson are great, they do have two duets in the Movie which are actually hilarious, it is Salma Hayek who steals the show in every scene she partakes in which begs the question as to if we will ever see a Movie just based on her, because it now needs to happen! Moreover, the chemistry that is shared between Reynolds and Jackson is unfortunately subpar but it still lingers throughout the Film and provides some true excitement when it comes to the action or comedic scenes.
The Hitmanās Bodyguard is a delight from start to finish, which has potential for a spin-off that will bring a featured star to the forefront. What the Film lacks for in innovation, it makes up for in entertainment, sure itās things weāve seen before but the execution of set pieces and action sequences are entertaining nonetheless.
VVS Films releases THE HITMANāS BODYGUARD in theatres on Friday August 18, 2017.
For advertising opportunites please contact mrwill@mrwillwong.com