Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson return with a hint of slapstick giggles in a mindless, lazy sequel. Hitman’s wife’s bodyguard unites the strange murderer couple with an equally slippery Conwoman in a hackneyed plot to save Europe’s technical infrastructure. The action comedy is jam-packed with shootouts, car chases, and brawls. The problem is that the violence is too superficial and absurd. The film embraces stupidity for failure. The result is the complete waste of its seasoned Hollywood ensemble cast.
Hitman’s wife’s bodyguard takes with Michael Bryce (Ryan Reynolds) after losing his “Triple A” security rating and license. To be a bodyguard was the whole purpose of his life. Lost and dejected, he meets a therapist who is quickly annoyed by his tearful chatter. She recommends that he take a long-earned vacation on the beautiful beaches of Capri, Italy.
Michael’s respite is given by a fire-rifled Sonia Kincaid (Salma Hayek). The newly married Darius Kincaid (Samuel L. Jackson) was kidnapped by Italian gangsters. His last words to his lover were to bring Michael Bryce to the rescue. Michael despises Darius, blames him for all his problems and has given up using a gun. His resolve is put to the test when the mismatched trio in Interpol’s investigation into infamous Greek billionaire Aristotle Papadopoulos (Antonio Banderas).
The bodyguard of the killer’s wife drops more F-bombs than a gangster rap album. The characters spew the expletive language in every sentence. Samuel L. Jackson has had quite a career saying “motherf *** er” but that’s the next swearing. And that’s just a small excerpt from Salma Hayek’s multilingual curse. Bad words have no meaning or shock when used so lightly. Vulgarity is no substitute for weak dialogue. I don’t know if the actors were improvising or reciting the script, but the profanity has little comedic value.
Ryan Reynolds is run over, thrown like a rag doll, and brains splashed over and over again throughout the film. Some of the gags are very fun. Reynolds sarcastic performance works with physical comedy. The gimmicks simply lose their luster in the second act. The character’s story arc, regaining their license and self-esteem, becomes stale. There’s no reason for Michael Bryce to put up with this nonsense; aside from being a punching bag and being the brunt of all jokes.
The bodyguard of the killer’s wife doesn’t mind the big budget campaign. The film gives full throttle with huge action scenes. I just wish they weren’t so cartoonish. The characters are never really in trouble. And when they get hurt, like being hit by a car, they jump back up and keep kicking the ass. No action should be taken seriously. I think the comedy element is over the top. The filmmakers had to reduce the farce and insert more realistic hazards. The first film was much better in that regard.
Frank Grillo, Richard E. Grant and Morgan Freeman have supporting roles. They are humorous at first, then become boring and forgetful. This seems to be the main flaw in all aspects of the narrative. The language, action, and pratfalls become less funny as the film progresses. The bodyguard of the killer’s wife is a production by Millennium Media and Summit Entertainment. It will hit theaters on June 16 from Lionsgate.
Subjects: The Hitmans Bodyguard 2
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