Run Time: 112 minutes

Director: Patrick Hughes

Actors: Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, Salma Hayek, Antonio Banderas, Morgan Freeman, Richard E. Grant, Frank Grillo, Caroline Goodall, Rebecca Front

IANS Rating: ***

This innocently funny movie that’s moderately violent, vulgar, and humorous is a sequel to 2017’s “The Hitman’s Bodyguard.” It’s not a great movie, but it sure is a good entertainer.

The film begins with Michael Bryce (Ryan Reynolds) still brooding over the loss of his triple A status on the International Bodyguard Review Board. Michael, who is in therapy, takes seriously his therapist’s advice to put his arms away for a while and take a restful sabbatical.

Out of the blue, while on vacation at a resort in Italy, Sonia Kincaid (Salma Hayek), the eponymous wife, who is desperate to have a baby, lands at the resort with guns literally with a plan. to kidnap Michael so that he could help him rescue her kidnapped husband, “The Hitman” Darius Kincaid (Samuel L. Jackson).

Despite the success of her mission to kidnap Michael and find her husband, her baby creation plan is hijacked by Interpol agent Bobby O’Neill (Frank Grillo). Bobby forces the trio to hunt down a device possessed by Aristotle (Antonio Banderas), a criminal who intends to destroy Europe in revenge for sanctions against the Greek economy.

This film is the canvas of Salma Hayek, and it is only her character who has maximum depth or screen time. She is loud and boisterous and plays her character to perfection, her character is balanced on a double-edged sword. She is brash, but caring and loving. At one point, she doesn’t apologize as a crook artist or about her sexuality, yet still passionate about starting a family regardless.

She doesn’t hesitate to prioritize her desires, a trait that irritates Bryce but is nonetheless generous and generous. She cares about Bryce but shows it in her own special way. Every time she’s on screen, kicking ass, cursing, or abusing, you want more.

Besides Sonia, the other female characters that appear include a mercenary, an Interpol agent, the therapist, and a translator, but they rarely share the same screen space and they are all mandatory.

Ryan Reynolds is a great actor with fabulous comedic timings, and he keeps you breaking with that dumb, dumb act every time. The added twist of having Morgan Freeman as Bryce’s father adds a solid punch to the father-son bond they share.

Samuel L. Jackson has a charm all his own and he shares a strange but fabulous chemistry with Salma Hayek.

Antonio Banderas is lost in a tiny role of Aristotle Papdopolous.

Edited with brilliant production values ​​and shot in various cities around the world, the film boasts of well-choreographed action sequences that include vehicle stunts and car chases, breathless punches and fighting on yachts, but sadly they all look like the generic action you see often. sequences.

Overall, “The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard” is a well-intentioned and enjoyable film.

–IANS
troy / kr