It's always interesting to see which movies get a sequel and which ones don't. Some movies are released to the public as franchise starters, so we know there is more to come, but 2017's "The Hitman's Bodyguard" really never felt like more needed to be told from its story. When the sequel was announced, it came as a surprise because the first movie doesn't seem to have any kind of cultural footprint. But it made $175 million worldwide, and now we are subjected to more of the same with "The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard."
Ryan Reynolds returns as Michael Bryce, a bodyguard at a crossroads in his life. The events of the first movie and past issues have put him in therapy and his therapist suggests he take a break from bodyguarding. Michael refuses to enter the world for the time being - even though he desperately wants to get his bodyguard license back - and is instead committed to spending time with himself without any guns. That idea is short-lived when he learns that hitman Darius Kindcaid (Samuel L. Jackson) is in trouble. Darius' wife Sonia (Selma Hayek) tracks down Michael on his vacation and whisks him off to help save Darius, and the three of them go on a globetrotting adventure. New to the mix is Antonio Banderas' Aristotle Papadopolous, as the film's villain.
The problem with the uninspired sequel "The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard" - besides the double possessive in the title, which drives me crazy - is that it's just more of the same. Perhaps that will be enough for some, but even the first film was a tedious mix of comedy and action, none of which lent itself to a fun time at the movies. In my 2017 review I called the movie numbing and repetitive, and the same holds true with the sequel. Ninety-some minutes has never felt so long, or so exhausting.
"The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard," much like the previous film, expects to coast by on the personalities of Reynolds and Jackson rather than their performances. Reynolds is good at deadpan and sarcasm, and Jackson delivers an f-bomb with all the frightening vigor in the world. The odd couple pairing isn't novel, and while the two play off each other well enough, it's in the service of a bland movie. However, Hayek gets a much more substantial role this time around (as the title suggests) and her undervalued comedic persona shines through in individual moments.
It would feel like a dereliction of duty not to report that the audience at my screening was laughing throughout the movie. Good for them - truly. People are looking for distraction and fun at this point, but there are better ways to spend your entertainment dollars than on a hapless retread of a forgettable movie from four years ago.
The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard Movie Review By Matthew Passantino
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