The Hitman’s Bodyguard (Mini Review Series)

Initial release date: August 18, 2017

Studios: Lionsgate Summit Entertainment Millennium Media

Tagline: Everyone’s out to get them … If they don’t kill each other first

Plot: The world’s top protection agent is called upon to guard the life of his mortal enemy, one of the world’s most notorious hit men. The relentless bodyguard and manipulative assassin have been on the opposite end of the bullet for years and are thrown together for a wildly outrageous 24 hours. During their journey from England to the Hague, they encounter high-speed car chases, outlandish boat escapades and a merciless Eastern European dictator who is out for blood.

Cast

Ryan Reynolds (Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard) - Michael Bryce

Samuel L. Jackson (Hitman’s Wide’s Bodyguard; Spiral) - Darius Kincaid

Salma Hayek (Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard) - Sonia Kincaid

Gary Oldman (Netflix’s The Woman in the Window) - Vladislav Dukhovich

Elodie Yung (Gods of Egypt) - Amelia Roussel

Joaquim de Almeida (Fatima) - Jean Foucher

Barry Atsma - Moreno

Tine Joustra - Renata Casoria

Kirsty Mitchell - Harr

Sam Hazeldine - Garrett

Michael Gor (Hunter Killer) - Livitin

Richard E. Grant (Rise of Skywalker; Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard) - Seifert

Yuri Kolokolnikov (Netflix’s 6 Underground) - Ivan

Writer: Tom O’Connor (The Courier; Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard)

Director: Patrick Hughes (The Expendables 3; Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard)

Rated R for strong violence and language throughout (118 minutes)

Since the movie’s sequel, ‘The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard,’ is currently showing at the Dietrich, I decided to take another look at the 2017 original ‘The Hitman’s Bodyguard’ for my mini review series.

This 2017 action-comedy is filled with lots of mindless fun and loads of shoot ‘em up/explosive action. The movie is one of those rare movies that is actually a lot better than you would think it would be. At first, when I first heard of the movie, I didn’t think it would be that great. Then I saw the movie’s trailer and changed my mind!

There really isn’t that much of a plot, but this is just one of those movies that is pure entertainment. All of the scenes that show Reynolds and Jackson are just simply hilarious and both actors work really well together. Their bickering scenes are just hysterical.

So, if you’re looking for a fun, action-packed comedy, check out ‘The Hitman’s Bodyguard’ and its sequel!!

Here are some interesting tidbits about ‘The Hitman’s Bodyguard’:

• The song that Kincaid and the nuns are singing together in the van (much to Bryce’s annoyance) is a 19th century Italian traditional drinking song named “Bevilo Tutto,” which encourages everyone to “drink it all up.”

• The movie poster shows Ryan Reynolds carrying Samuel L. Jackson is a parody of the poster for ‘The Bodyguard.’ Even the taglines are the same (albeit with pronoun changes).

• For a big stunt involving two trams and some cars, the stunt team made a mistake and ruined one of the trams. The result was major damage and a large bill. This accident can be seen in the gag reel.

• The script from the movie was among the top 2011 Black List of unproduced screenplays. While originally intended as a drama, the script underwent a frantic two week re-write to be remade into a comedy several weeks prior to filming.

• The movie grossed $75.4 million in the US and Canada and $105.1 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $180.6 million, against a production budget between $30 and 69 million.