They call this an Action-Comedy…
And it is. THE HITMAN’S BODYGUARD is nearly two hours of non-stop R-rated mayhem—with a bloody body count to match.
What makes the movie unique is its primarily Dutch setting. You don’t see that too often.
But Amsterdam certainly gives director Patrick Hughes the opportunity to capture the visual action not just along Amsterdam’s narrow streets but through its canals as well.
THE HITMAN’S BODYGUARD has Ryan Reynolds playing a high priced bodyguard (who’s seen some bad days of late) charged with delivering incarcerated badass felon Samuel L. Jackson to the international criminal court case against Belarusian war criminal Gary Oldman.
The delivery must occur before 5:00 p.m. local time or charges are dropped.
How to get Jackson to the Hague is now Reynold’s deadly task. You get the picture.
MIDNIGHT RUN anyone?
CRM_
So far so good.
Except the ongoing deadly chases can wear out their welcome after awhile.
A shorter 95 minutes of them would’ve probably played better.
My other criticism is the nonexistent chemistry between Reynolds and Jackson,
It all comes across very forced…staged.
But hey it’s getting close to the cinematic dog days of summer and the studios are beginning to clear off their shelves—and it’s showing.
THE HITMAN’S BODYGUARD, also starring Salma Hayek, opens citywide.
My grade: C+
JACK GOES TO THE MOVIES Friday mornings during Kansas City’s Morning News on 98.1 FM, KMBZ.
