After the success of The Hitman’s Bodyguard with its mad chemistry between leads Samuel L. Jackson and Ryan Reynolds, it seemed obvious that we were going to get a follow-up and the reason why it works—dare I say even better—is a third wheel, Salma Hayek. She played a smaller role in the original film, but she is integral to the plot, the action, and the dynamic between Reynolds and Jackson throughout.
The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard is now out on DVD, Blu-ray, and digital formats after triumphing at the box office earlier this year as a number one movie in the land.
Back in 2017, The Hitman’s Bodyguard hit theaters and banked $176.6 globally before all was said and done—all off a budget estimated to be between $30 and $69 million. It was a surprise hit and director Patrick Hughes made the most of the “mismatched” chemistry and the humor and action that emanated from Reynolds and Jackson that was equally as hilarious as it was compelling. Hayek was in the first film but had a much more minor role than she does in the sequel that even bears her moniker in the title!
For the sequel, the reason the band is getting back together—especially after it seemed at the conclusion of the last movie that the last thing any of them wanted to do was to reunite, is that Jackson’s Darius Kincaid has been abducted and his wife Sonia Kincaid will do anything to ensure his safe return. Even if it means hiring the “license-less” Michael Bryce (Reynolds) whose image alone would be enough to send Darius over the edge. But, through a slight piece of miscommunication, that is exactly who walks through that captor’s door with Darius’ beautiful wife to save him.
Meanwhile, Hughes has returned to the director’s chair, and he has done exactly what the best sequels do—he has expanded an already solid landscape and grown its world. There are European Union condoned sanctions on Greece that is economically crippling that country and are only getting worse. There is someone who can do something about it, and it’s the man who’s in the crosshairs of Darius, Michael, and Sonia. Aristotle Papdopolous (Antonio Banderas) is a pretty stereotypical European “mad villain,” but in the hands of the Spanish actor, there’s a lightness, a humor to his madness and villainy. He also seems to be a step or two ahead of our trio of anti-heroes the entire time.
What drives the sequel, as it did the original, is the banter, performances, and differences attract mentally of Darius and Michael in particular. Sometimes a pair of actors, here Reynolds and Jackson, have something intangible that would have audiences having them read the phonebook with joy. Lucky for us, there is a whole mystery, humor, and race-against-the-clock element to The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard that keeps the energy of the film popping right until its conclusion.
Then, there’s Hayek. She has always been one of those actresses whose presence alone on the screen demands your attention. When she’s playing a hitman herself, who’s married to one of the best in Darius, their love affair and desire to have children is fascinating at the last and utterly amusing at the most. The Mexican actress does an extraordinary job with the character and one can tell that she relishes the expanded role this movie has afforded her. She may earn accolades such as Academy Award nominations for roles such as Frida. But like all of our big three, there is an innate comedic ability that helmer Hughesutilizes to its fullest with situational comedy delivered by the script by Phillip Murphy and Brandon Murphy.
The Movie Mensch has written this many times, but it’s true whether it is a superhero movie or an action-comedy. A film such as these are only as good as their villain. It would have been easy for Banderas to “chew the scenery” and take his Greek magnate too far. But he firmly has Papdopolous in that sweet spot that had us thinking if the Wilson/Broccoli family ever need a European villain who can simultaneously strike fear in his adversaries and warrant the respect of those who follow him, it is Banderas. He would make a bodacious Bond villain. What he does with The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard is provide the most surprising and entertaining of adversaries.
Hayek and Jackson are adorable. Witnessing them together while Reynolds deadpans his disgust and disdain is gold. The film is not perfect, don’t get me wrong. But it is highly entertaining and just like the first one, contains action sequences that push the envelope on one hand and on the other hand has us laughing at these mismatched characters finding a way to work together to right a wrong.
Fitting then that the first bonus feature we’d recommend is Ryan, Sam, Salma: One F’d Up Family. The just over nine-minute extra combines scenes from the film with interviews that put them in context. It’s as delightful as the three are onscreen in the film itself.
As part of his “therapy,” Michael Bryce has sworn of bodyguarding, guns, and weapons in general. So, the featurette Gone Soft: The New Michael Bryce is a delightful featurette that focuses on this very aspect of the story and the challenges and humor it brings to this sequel.
On the Set of Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard is a fun featurette, albeit a little on the short side at four minutes. It shines a spotlight on the production designer—Russell del Rozario—who takes viewers on a mini-tour of how he produced one of the film’s more integral and engaging and hilarious scenes.
There’s a solid almost five-minute gag reel and several theatrical trailers included. But the true final featurette is Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard: #stuntlife—which is exactly as it sounds. Wonder how they did that when it comes to pulling off some of these wildly imaginative stunts? Now, you have answers, thanks to interviews with those in front and behind the camera—particularly Stunt Coordinator Adam Horton.
Film Grade: B
Bonus Features: B