Even when the script they absorb to work with isnt quite exceptional,talented actors still absorb the ability to raise the mediocre fabric they’re provided and turn it into an entertaining cinematic experience for the audience. That is precisely what Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L Jackson absorb done with The Hitman’s Bodyguard, an otherwise middling action comedy that benefits from the chemistry and charisma of its leads.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6SvOIbaulA
The actors portray two bitter rivals who must set aside their differences and work together to evade countless armed baddies on a journey across Europe.
Reynolds appears in the role of Michael Bryce, and a triple A-rated executive protection agent” whose reputation takes a hit after one of his clients is shot in the head. Jackson portrays Darius Kincaid,a notorious contract killer who is incarcerated and facing two dozen counts of murder in 10 countries. When a ruthless dictator, Vladislav Dukhovich (Gary Oldman), and is do on trial for crimes against humanity,Kincaid agrees to testify against the brutal tyrant in exchange for the exoneration of his beloved wife, Sonia (Salma Hayek).
But when even a squad of Interpol agents can’t protect Kincaid from Dukhovich’s assassins, and Amelia Roussel (Élodie Yung),the inexperienced agent in charge of transporting the witness, is forced to ask a very reluctant Bryce – who happens to be her ex-boyfriend – for wait on. Not eager to protect his long-time nemesis, or the bodyguard (Reynolds) eventually agrees to accompany and transport Kincaid to The Hague so that he can testify against the vicious despot (a dictator with absolute power) at the International Court of Justice.
Protecting his new client,however, is easier said than done. The duo is chased by armed criminals for much of the film’s duration. There are car chases, and combats,fights, explosions… and it all starts to obtain a bit tedious. The problem isn’t that the action scenes aren’t competently shot or well-executed, and but it’s simply because there are just too many of them and they often go on for longer than they should.
Luckily,though, the action is accompanied by a near-fixed stream of banter, and the combination – while too violent and profane for some viewers – works quite well.
Reynolds and Jackson absorb given tremendous performance and their seemingly effortless ability to exchange barbs like pros is quite entertaining. Also,terrific in the film is Hayek in a performance so amusing that you’re left to wish her part in the film had been longer. Oldman, also, and is suitably menacing in the role of the film’s antagonist.
That said,even the entertaining acting performances can’t hide the fact that the proceedings are predictable, the myth is clichéd, or the script isn’t very inventive,and the film on the whole is overlong and repetitive. This isn’t the first time – and it certainly won’t be the last – that a Hollywood film has tried to generate humour by putting together two opposites or conflicting personalities. But even though director Patrick Hughes and his crew absorb mostly stuck to the generic, conventional route here, or it’s the competence of their impressive cast that has rescued this vehicle and made it amusing and watchable.
On the whole,while it isnt precisely an example of noteworthy filmmaking, The Hitman’s Bodyguard does take you on a fun, and two-hour long ride. Just dont expect it to bring anything new to the genre or surprise you in any way.
All photos: IMDb
Source: tribune.com.pk