About the film (courtesy of Lionsgate):
The world’s most lethal odd couple – bodyguard Michael Bryce (Ryan Reynolds) and hitman Darius Kincaid (Samuel L. Jackson) – are back on another life-threatening mission. Still unlicensed and under scrutiny, Bryce is forced into action by Darius’s even more volatile wife, the infamous international con artist Sonia Kincaid (Salma Hayek). As Bryce is driven over the edge by his two most dangerous protectees, the trio get in over their heads in a global plot and soon find that they are all that stand between Europe and a vengeful and powerful madman (Antonio Banderas). Joining in the fun and deadly mayhem is Morgan Freeman as…well, you’ll have to see.
“Buddy” action comedies are a dime a dozen these days, but they’ve been around for a decades, which means that there’s clearly a market for them. Whether it’s a one-off like Running Scared (1986), starring Gregory Hines and Billy Crystal, or a series of films such as the Lethal Weapon franchise, starring Danny Glover and Mel Gibson, fans tend to gravitate to these types of movies regardless of what critics have to say. Personally, I tend to find enjoyment in such projects because there’s usually chemistry present that helps soften the rough edges, making it an easier pill to swallow. We all just want to be entertained at the end of the day, so why look for reasons to take that away?
Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard is the continuation of the made-for-R-rated fun duo of Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson, first paired together in The Hitman’s Bodyguard (2017). While the action comedy wasn’t particularly well-received with critics, it did do enough to gain the favor of fans and allowed the story of Michael, Darius and his wife, Sonia to further grow.
The comedy chemistry of the main trio of actors is what will allow Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard to succeed or fail in the box office. With director Patrick Hughes returning to direct the sequel, the style continuity is already established, so there’s definitely less of a learning curve there. The story hits the ground running in terms of style, pacing and, well, silliness.
Familiarity weighs heavily as Hughes reunites Salma Hayek with her BFF Antonio Banderas. The pair starred in Desperado (1995) and Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003) together. It should also be noted that Hughes also worked with Banderas on the huge ensemble cast of The Expendables 3 (2014). So yeah, reunions all over the place. And since we’re taking this trip down memory lane, Banderas and another co-star, Morgan Freeman, also worked together in The Code (2009).
Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard is crass, comical and at the end of the day, entertaining. Salma Hayek is as entertaining as ever in her expanded role from the original. Her character is fiery and always down for a fight. The additions of Tom Hopper, Morgan Freeman and Frank Grillo provide additional depth that maybe, the first film lacked. But when all is said and done, it’ll be Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson that make or break the far-fetched folly.
All of the boxes are checked for your prototypical film of this ilk. Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard contains colorful characters, death, destruction, profanity laced tirades and even a little romance and emotion to mix things up a bit. Once again, don’t expect this to be a media darling vying for a spot on someone’s “Best Of” list. Instead, look at this as what it is meant to be, 100 minutes of fun and mayhem while escaping life’s hardships while also being thankful to be back at theaters.
Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard is only in theaters starting Wednesday, June 16.
