By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
I was in the mood for a few good laughs and caught an early screening of
“The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard,” the follow-up to the 2017 break out hit, “The Hitman’s Bodyguard.”
Thankfully, this sequel didn’t disappoint. It’s as ridiculously silly and funny as I had hoped.
Patrick Hughes who directed the first movie, is back in the saddle again. With “The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard,” Hughes and screenwriters Tom O’Connor, (“The Courier”), Brandon Murphy (“Snow Valley”) and Phillip Murphy (“The Last Drop”) have doubled down on the action and comedy and deliver a lively, funny, and wildly entertaining movie.
“The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard” sure does earn its “R-Rating.” It's not just because of the f-bombs and profanity laced diatribe spewing from hitman Darius Kincaid (a funny Samuel L. Jackson, “Spiral”), but also from his feisty, international con artist wife Sonia (a fabulous Salma Hayek, “Like a Boss”). She’s even told by shamed bodyguard Michael Bryce (Ryan Reynolds, “Deadpool 3”) that her mouth is “in need of an exorcism.”
Then again, Michael (Reynolds) hasn’t been himself lately either. He still can’t shake losing his Triple A bodyguard certification. It’s got him all torn up and on edge as he awaits word if he’ll be reinstated.
He’s even seeing a psychiatrist (Rebecca Front, TV’s “The Other One”) and he is really driving her crazy with all his ramblings about not being recognized as a bodyguard. She suggests he take things easy, put away his guns and go on vacation to Italy and unwind.
Michael does, but that tranquility is short-lived when Sonia (Hayek) shows up out of the blue. She needs his help to rescue Darius (Jackson) who is caught in more of his usual mess of owing money to mobsters and the like.
Their mission gets even more complicated and dangerous when an Interpol agent named Bobby (Frank Grillo, “Black and Blue”) enlist their services to help him track down the sought-after criminal and shipping tycoon, Aristotle Papadopolous (Antonio Banderas, “Pain and Glory”).
Apparently, Aristotle isn’t happy with the EU and how its placed sanctions on Greece. So, he’s got something up his sleeve and is out for revenge.
Their big plan doesn’t exactly pan out and soon Michael, Sonia and Darius find themselves on the run from Aristotle’s crew and are forced to reach out to Michael’s adoptive father who is none other than Morgan Freeman (“Coming 2 America”). Michael sure has some “daddy” issues. The encounter with Michael, his father and when Sonia and Darius meet him, is just flat-out hilarious.
The stunts in “The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard” are impressive too and the movie moves at a fast clip. As good as Reynolds and Jackson are together here, it is Hayek who steals the show.
Hayek’s the sweet treat in “The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard.” It’s good to see the “wifey” shine even more the second time around.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays at 6:20 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.
Watch This Trailer For
"THE HITMAN'S WIFE'S BODYGUARD"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The Black Film Critics Circle (BFCC), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
