The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard
Ten Second Review: Nothing to fear missing out on, but there’s certainly enough here for a fun enough watch.
I have to make a confession; I didn’t see 2017’s The Hitman’s Bodyguard. I had hoped that my viewing experience wouldn’t be too heavily marred by this and, while mildly tarnished, I think I made it out not too negatively effected.
The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard features Samuel L Jackson, Salma Hayak and Ryan Reynolds in the respective roles of hitman, wife and bodyguard. As a terrorist threatens Europe with some undefined menacery, our three anti-heroes will have to put a stop to his devilish plans.
It has to be said that plot matters very little to this film. It is an out and out action-comedy and the plot really is only a device to give a direction and platform for stunts and jokes. This might sound dismissive or wholly negative, but in all honesty the film doesn’t pretend to be anything else, and I think that’s fine. I don’t mind something that doesn’t pretend to have depth being very shallow.
The question of whether the film is good really becomes one of whether it’s tone is something the viewer will enjoy. It is a violent and foul mouthed comedy “thriller”. It is unlikely to interest critics, but for those looking to watch a surface level stunt show while Hayak, Jackson and Reynolds (along with a host of other great cast members) quip their way through an hour and a half of innocuous viewing, this will do fine.
It borrows heavily from the set piece coordination of the Kingsman films. The slightly lacking attempt at comedic and narrative driving fight scenes featuring tracked cameras give this away. It also doesn’t offer much in the way of class script writing and is unlikely to warrant multiple viewings. It is however perfectly serviceable if it is what you are in the mood for. A real switch off and smirk film.
This film will be panned by critics. They will use words like “mundane”, “generic” and “lazy” (I’m guessing), but the actors looked like they had fun and sometimes that’s actually what you want to watch. Not every film has to be cinema and that’s actually fine. Not every film has to be a moving and thought provoking experience and that’s fine too. If you watch the trailer and enjoy the tone, see it. If you don’t enjoy the trailer, give it a miss. Either way it won’t change your world, but if you’re in the right mood, it’s a bit of fun for an evening.
