Directed by:
Patrick HughesCinematography:
Terry StaceyComposer:
Atli ÖrvarssonCast:
Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, Salma Hayek, Antonio Banderas, Frank Grillo, Morgan Freeman, Tom Hopper, Gabriella Wright, Kristofer Kamiyasu (more)VOD (3)
Plots(1)
The world’s most lethal odd couple – bodyguard Michael Bryce (Ryan Reynolds) and hitman Darius Kincaid (Samuel L. Jackson) – 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 total chaos. Joining in the fun and deadly mayhem are Antonio Banderas as a vengeful and powerful madman and Morgan Freeman as… well, you’ll have to see. (VVS Films)
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Reviews (7)
"I wouldn't leave a Chucky doll in her care." The second cinema visit this year, another sequel, and it's a fun R-rated ride that I really enjoyed. Drama fans will of course be disappointed as the story doesn't really bring anything new to the action comedy genre and the villain has a traditional bomb plan, but who cares. It's fun, it's gritty, it's got a breakneck pace, lots of familiar faces, cool memorable scenes, and I had enough fun that I didn't have time to think about anything downright annoying. Ryan Reynolds may be doing his Deadpool thing again and Samuel L. Jackson spurts one motherfucker after another. Frank Grillo as the detective and Antonio Banderas as the villain (albeit with punishingly little space) were quite enjoyable. Of course Salma Hayek steals the whole show here, not only with her deep cleavage but also with her awesome lines. I wanna marry her! The highlight is the flashback grim reaper who seems to have fallen from a Final Destination movie, it had the whole cinema laughing. The entrance of Morgan Freeman is similarly cool as the entrance of Christopher Lloyd in Nobody. I have minor reservations about the action scenes, they were little too wild and chaotic for my taste. The camera was either too close or there were so many cuts that I didn’t know was going on at times (this not Indonesia or Korea, so I’ll turn a blind eye). A tad weaker than the first one, but still a fun and enjoyable ride with fine actors that shouldn't offend anyone. Story 3/5, Action 4/5, Humor 4/5, Violence 3/5, Fun 4/5, Music 4/5, Visuals 4/5, Atmosphere 3/5, Suspense 3/5, Actors 4/5. 7.5/10.
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Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson and Salma Hayek must stop Antonio Banderas from destroying Europe, but they'll have plenty of work to do to keep from killing each other. The sequel to The Hitman’s Bodyguard brings back characters that were fun in the first one, but this time they've run out of gas. There's still plenty of action and it doesn't look bad, but when it's supposed to be funny, the film feels insecure and, more importantly, almost embarrassing in that it's built entirely on the fact that two people are yelling at a third for two hours. Significantly weaker than the first one, and a completely pointless film.
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The second Hitman’s Bodyguard is more or less a sort of compilation of what I hate about contemporary mainstream cinema, namely an overabundance of characters, CGI out of laziness, pop culture giggles, Ryan Reynolds, and a fixation on nostalgia for old faces. But somehow I couldn't get angry at it, because it managed, I guess, to convey the mood of a place where quite obviously no one could care less and does whatever they want. It's written on drugs, acted on drugs, and the fee for Richard E. Grant's cameo must have kept the Croatian dealers busy for weeks. The upside is that this train doesn't stall and even when there isn't exactly an action scene going on, there is dialogue that is played with such nonsensical intensity and written so over the top that it comes across as an action scene. In any case, the gold digger Salma Hayek is utterly unbearable and undoubtedly deserving of a golden Anna Nicole Smith statue.
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The verbal humour was a bit hammy at times, but otherwise it was pleasantly irreverent, with an impeccable Salma Hayek. I hate to use the cliché that she “had fun”, but in her case it really applies and she must have enjoyed her part incredibly. I guess the guys and gals behind the camera on set must have had fun during her performances too, including the flapper. Moreover, in the case of Salma, this is clear evidence that a woman in her fifties can look great even without hideous plastic surgery (Hollywood princesses say hello).
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Unfortunately, the sequel didn’t quite hit the mark. It’s somewhat surprising, considering that the main cast remained the same as in the first film. While the jokes on the edge of being cringeworthy had their charm, and I enjoyed the banter between Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson, the creators took it too far this time. Everything was pushed towards overly crude humor that didn’t sit well with me (especially Salma Hayek, who I preferred in a supporting role). The story had nothing substantial to offer; it was overly clichéd and full of tropes. The action didn’t captivate me either. Compared to the excellent shootout with Interpol or the chase through the picturesque Amsterdam alleys, this installment lacked such engaging scenes. The excessive digital effects and sometimes off-putting CGI were also quite irritating. Morgan Freeman's cameo and Antonio Banderas' crazy villain role were enjoyable, but unfortunately, that wasn’t enough. I give it 4.5/10.
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