Movie Review – The Hitman’s Bodyguard

The Hitman’s Bodyguard is an action adventure comedy featuring Samuel L. Jackson and Ryan Reynolds. And you would be surprised, there really is not much violence and swearing…who am I kidding, this is a Samuel L. Jackson and Ryan Reynolds film, you will get everything you expect. However, the movie also has some poignant messages about life in general.

The story centers around a hitman, Darius Kincaid (played by Jackson), who is in custody and needs to be escorted from the UK to The Hague in the Netherlands to testify against a dictator Vladislav Dukhovich (played by Gary Oldman). However, a traitor from within Interpol sets up the protection detail and they get slaughtered down to almost the last officer.

The surviving officer, Amelia Roussel (played by Elodie Yung) was previously involved with a protection agent who has fallen from grace, Michael Bryce (played by Reynolds). She brings in Michael to help her get Darius to The Hague before the deadline for testimony passes.

The bulk of the movie involves competing agendas between Michael and Darius and the comedy that ensues from that conflict. I found myself laughing throughout the movie (as did the rest of the audience in the theater). Additionally, there is also a mentee / mentor relationship where Darius helps open Michael’s eyes to a different world view than the one he had been so certain of at the start of the film.

If you take the movie for what it is, a fun (and sometimes a little over the top) flick featuring a couple of unabashedly vulgar men kicking asses and one teaching the other to not take himself too seriously, you’ll enjoy the film.  I give The Hitman’s Bodyguard 4.5 out of 5 stars.