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Review: ‘The Hitman’s Bodyguard’ swears by its talented stars (Includes first-hand account)

Most movie fans have a wish list of actors they’d like to see appear in a film together. Whether it’s because they’d complement each other in an on-screen partnership or make terrific adversaries, one hopes to eventually find out if they’re matchmaking is correct. Such things don’t always pan out, either because the project wasn’t actually up to snuff or they really don’t mesh as well as everyone had predicted, in which case audiences leave disappointed. But then there’s the collaborations no one ever really considered, but turn out to be a triumphant combination. Uniting Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson in The Hitman’s Bodyguard falls in the latter category.

Michael Bryce (Reynolds) was an in-demand executive protective agent… until he wasn’t. Having fallen on hard times, he now takes jobs protecting coked-up CEOs from their enemies/debt collectors. But he’s about to get called back up to the big leagues. Darius Kincaid (Jackson) is a notorious hitman who’s agreed to provide evidence against a dictator (Gary Oldman) facing charges of genocide at the U.N.’s International Court of Justice in exchange for his wife’s (Salma Hayek) freedom. When Interpol proves incapable of transferring the witness safely, Bryce is employed to get the job done. They have less than 24 hours to get from London to The Hague, while also evading a series of assassins sent to make sure they never arrive at their final destination.

Both of these actors are comfortable in rated-R territory, having portrayed characters beloved for their profanity and violence. Now they’re together to wreak havoc and use the word “motherf@#%&r” so much it loses all meaning. They are equally proficient killers, though Bryce is hired to protect scumbags and Kincaid makes his living taking them out — these endeavours unsurprisingly obscure the line between good guys and bad since they both believe their pursuits are righteous. Yet it’s this duality that makes their interactions so entertaining and occasionally just a little maudlin. Moreover, Hayek is the perfect woman to match Kincaid’s fire and fury as she leaves a deep impression on the film in spite of only being in a few scenes.

As with any action movie, there are a lot of bodies, explosions and, chases involving gunfire and bullet-riddled cars. But each is bolstered by the witty and comedic rapport between the two stars. As they take cover in the woods avoiding machine gun fire, the mood is kept light by their dislike for each other and the playful ribbing that accompanies it. Reynolds and Jackson’s screen chemistry is remarkable, boasting flawless comedic timing and an impressive ability to play off of one another. They also appear to be having a blast with these loud and lethal characters. Oldman portrays the complete opposite of their rambunctious do-gooders, intimidating those he speaks to with just a look and a few chosen, quietly spoken words.

In spite nearly running two hours, there is never a dull moment in this Deadpool-Jules team-up… so much so that when it ends, you hope to join them on their next adventure.

Director: Patrick Hughes
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson and Salma Hayek

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Sarah Gopaul is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for film news, a member of the Online Film Critics Society and a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved critic.

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