The bodyguard Michael Bryce continues his friendship with assassin Darius Kincaid as they try to save Darius’s wife Sonia in The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard. Rated R for strong bloody violence throughout, pervasive language, and some sexual content.
Sequels are always a gamble for viewers. Often they fail to capture the same magic that made the first one so enjoyable. It can be a regurgitation of the same jokes or an exploitation of a beloved character. The succesful ones are able to tell a unique story that is cohesive with that which we already know. It borrows from the first one only what it needs to bring depth to the characters and new plot. This film does that perfectly.
Esteemed bodyguard Michael Bryce (Ryan Reynolds) is at a crossroads in his life. The events of the first film have left his career and reputation on the brink of destruction. This has also led to a lot of mental anguish. When he decides to take a relaxing sabbatical from guns and violence it is short lived. He soon finds himself thrown in the mix with the very people who have destroyed his life; Darius (Samuel L. Jackson) and Sonia (Salma Hayek) Kincaid.
The first film gave us a small taste of the foul mouthed effervescent Sonia Kincaid. In this one we get a full smorgasbord. Building the story around her was one of many smart moves. This allows for a fresh perspective and gives Darius and Michael a new adventure. Hayek is fantastic in this role and watching Reynolds’ reaction to her character is so much fun. Sonia and Darius are having marital problems on top of being targeted by a vicious mobsters (Antonio Banderas) which adds to the fun and awkward moments.
If you like your action/violence over the top and unbelievable then get ready. Bryce is put through the wringer the entire film and that fact that he survives 5-minutes much less 90-minutes is unfathomable. It works though and allows the rest of the movie to gel. If the humor was there but the rest of the film took itself too serious you would not know what to embrace. But here it all seamlessly joins.
There is more to the plot other than exploding blood packets. It touches on marriage, family values, father-son relationships and more. None of these are heavy handed but add an element of understanding into the characters and their motivation. Darius and Michael also have to get over their issues. They have been thrown into a dangerous journey and neither wants to be there with the other. Their chemistry is another layer to the solid film.
We get additional high end actors in the The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard. Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, and Antonio Banderas round out this ensemble nicely. To avoid spoilers I will not go into much of what they bring only to say that it is sure entertaining to watch.
The film is rated R strongly for violence and language through out. Leave the kids at home or take them to see something else. Then grab your other adult friends and head out to this one. You will not be disappointed.
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