HITMAN’S WIFE’S BODYGUARD REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

The Hitman’s Bodyguard, an action-packed comedy starring Samuel L. Jackson as hitman Darius Kincaid and Ryan Reynolds as bodyguard Michael Bryce, was a surprise hit at the box office when it was released in 2017. Although it worked as a stand alone film, a sequel, Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, has recently been released, however, is it as entertaining as its predecessor?

The world's most lethal odd couple, bodyguard Bryce and hitman Kincaid 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, Aristotle Papadopolous (Antonio Banderas).

Although a sequel to The Hitman’s Bodyguard wasn’t necessary, it was inevitable as it made over $176 million at the box office. Because I enjoyed the first film, I was really looking forward to the sequel, Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard. Fortunately, it didn’t disappoint and met my expectations. Like its predecessor, Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard is filled with fast paced action and tongue in cheek humour. 

Fans of The Hitman’s Bodyguard will, most likely, enjoy Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard as it offers more of the same. The majority of the sequel focuses on Michael, Darius and Sonia as they work together to try and stop Aristotle who wants to destroy the European power grid and infrastructure since the European Union is planning to impose more sanctions on Greece. The story is one of the weakest aspects as it’s predictable and similar to the plot of The Hitman’s Bodyguard which focused on Michael and Darius on the run from a team of bad guys. Although the narrative does feel repetitive, that didn’t prevent me from enjoying the exhilarating action and the amusing humour.

Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard balances the action and comedy really well. The action sequences are where the film is at its most exciting. The Hitman’s Bodyguard was filled with fast-paced car chases and violent gun shoot outs and that’s still the case with Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard. At the beginning of the sequel, Michael is receiving therapy following the events of the previous film which has led to him having nightmares involving Darius. His therapist tells him to take a break from body guarding. During his break, Michael is interrupted by Sonia who tells him that Darius is in trouble and needs his help. Following Darius’ rescue, the trio find themselves working for the FBI in order to stop Aristotle. Unsurprisingly, Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard is at its funniest when it’s focusing on Michael, Darius and Sonia. Most of the humour comes from physical comedy and sarcastic and witty dialogue, most of which are delivered by Reynolds as Michael. Those who find Reynolds irritating, especially in Deadpool, won’t find him bearable in Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard as he is basically playing the same character if Deadpool were a bodyguard. Jackson is his usual bad-ass self. In The Hitman’s Bodyguard, Hayek was a scene stealer as Sonia, however, most of her scenes were in a prison cell. In Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, Hayek’s screen time has been extended significantly and she delivers a feisty portrayal of Sonia. Banderas is perfectly over the top as the villainous Aristotle. In the marketing campaign, legendary, Oscar-winning actor, Morgan Freeman appears on one of the posters for Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, however, his role was not specified. I won’t spoil his role as it’s one of the most surprising and funniest revelations. 

After the spread of coronavirus led to cinemas closing for most of last year, they’ve been reopened with distrubition studios releasing films that have been delayed, including A Quiet Place Part II and other much anticipated films, including Cruella and In The Heights. Prior to the pandemic, cinemas were one of my favourite places to visit as they were a form of escapism and a distraction from reality and that is especially true right now. Although Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard isn’t the best film to be released in cinemas following their recent reopening, it’s still a lot of fun and provides audiences with 100 minutes of entertainment through fast-paced action and amusing comedy. 

7/10