Review of The Hitman's Bodyguard (2017) by Grant S — 27 May 2018
A bit hit and miss, though ends well.
Belarussian dictator Vladislav Dukhovich is standing trial for genocide. The trial is not going well for the prosecution - their witnesses tend to turn up dead. They have one trump card though - hitman Darius Kincaid is willing to testify against Dukhovich. Interpol try to get Kincaid to the trial but after the convoy is ambushed, Interpol agent Amelia Roussel, aware that there is a Dukhovich spy in her own organisation, calls in outside help - professional bodyguard Michael Bryce. One problem - Bryce and Kincaid hate each other.
On paper, a movie with potential. Combine the comedic delivery of Ryan Reynolds (as Bryce) and the action-drama antics of Samuel L Jackson (as Kincaid) and you should have a winner, right?
Well, sort of. The chalk-and-cheese riffing of Bryce vs Kincaid works fairly well, and Reynolds delivers his wise-cracks with aplomb and precision. However, far too much time is spent on the action side and not enough on the humour. For long stretches the movie feels like just another dime-a-dozen action-thriller.
It all comes together well in the end though. Good ending that is more than just action-filled.
As mentioned, great work by Ryan Reynolds in his role, a role made for him. Samuel L Jackson plays to his strengths and does well.
Gary Oldman, always first choice for a larger-than-life villain, does well as Dukhovich, as does Elodie Yung as Roussel. The disappointment is Salma Hayek as Kincaid's wife. Her character and performance seem forced and too over-the-top.
This review of The Hitman's Bodyguard (2017) was written by Grant S on 27 May 2018.
The Hitman's Bodyguard has generally received positive reviews.
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