The Hitmans’s Wife’s Bodyguard Movie Review

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“The Hitmans’s Wife’s Bodyguard” goes back to the starting point, which is the previous movie called “The Hitmans’s Bodyguard”. So there was a Hitman, who once made a Hit on the Bodyguard’s client. This ruined the Bodyguard’s career and reputation. Then the Bodyguard was called on to protect that same Hitman. Also the Wife of the Hitman was involved and the story went absolutely bonkers. It was quite an R-Rated Romp with a Ruckus Resulting from these Ridiculous Rascals.

Michael Bryce (played by Ryan Reynolds) is the AAA rated Bodyguard. Except that after the events of the first movie, his license was suspended. Michael still has nightmares about his nemesis, Darius Kincaid (played by Samuel L. Jackson) who is the Hitman that ended Michael’s career. Michael decides to move away from being a Bodyguard, and go on a long, peaceful vacation. Guess how long that lasts? It lasts until Sonia Kincaid (played by Salma Hayek) finds him and gets Michael to help get back her husband, Darius.

It seems that Darius was kidnapped by some thugs working for a Greek billionaire named Aristotle Papadopolous (played by Antonio Banderas). Aristotle has some grudge against the European Union and will use a ‘MacGuffin’ type device to turn Europe into a flaming ruin. Interpol agent Bobby O’Neill (played by Frank Grillo) has a half-baked plan to use Michael, Darius and Sonia to stop the mad Aristotle from causing death and destruction. Mostly by allowing only these three to cause death and destruction. It will just be on a smaller scale.

All the while, Michael is attempting to refocus his life to a new and better goal. He does not know what that goal might be. He has vowed to give up Bodyguard duties and Guns during this time. Quite an inconvenient aspect when you are being chased by thugs, crooks and criminals — all armed to the teeth. Darius and Sonia are attempting to work out marital difficulties, especially since Sonia wants to have a baby. Again, not a convenient time to argue about these things when fending off knives, bullets and shoulder-fired missiles. So, as these three take a tour of European countryside, Michael seeks some help from a friendly face.

Senior (played by Morgan Freeman) is a person that Michael can trust. At least Michael thinks he can be trusted… But there are so many ways that Aristotle Papadopolous can find these three. Aristotle tells of some prior back-story of knowing Sonia years ago. Sonia and Darius have (another) heated argument about what that was all about. Michael wants to just get everything over, so he can go back to getting his AAA rating. But it seems that might never happen. Bobby O’Neill, from Interpol, finds out that now Aristotle has possession of the ‘MacGuffin’ type device. Will he use it to destroy Europe? Will Michael ever get his prized AAA rating back? Will Darius and Sonia ever have the chance to create a new life?

“The Hitmans’s Wife’s Bodyguard” is a sequel that does not live up to the initial installment. But it tries really hard to give the audience the mayhem and mischief that played a huge role in the first movie (“The Hitmans’s Bodyguard”). In that area it succeeds. Plus it also increases ‘The Odd Couple’ format of the first movie, by having instead “The Odd Threesome”. Sometimes, more is better – but it is not always the case. Three can be a Crowd, and what is crowded out here is any logical story line or any real heft to the situation. It is played as if it was realistic, but it is all just preposterous.

Bringing this much talent together ought to make this movie something special. Getting the sizable star qualities of Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson and Salma Hayek should make it a solid hit. Also adding in the additional talents of Antonio Banderas and Morgan Freeman should make it unstoppable. But, because the story is so muddled and the humor is so off kilter, it does not seem to work out like that. Freeman’s time is too brief, and Banderas has a role with a broad comedy feel, and does not register as a villain.

In the other movie, Salma Hayek had more of an extended cameo role. In this movie, she has more to do, and plays just on the edge of hysterical. Samuel L. Jackson brings a considerable amount of talent, but never ignites a spark for his character. Ryan Reynolds plays the straight man (again). He seems to have fun, but is always the butt of the joke. He also get run over, shot and injured in various ways – which is not the best thing to structure a ‘comedy’ movie around.

“The Hitmans’s Wife’s Bodyguard” hits a few funny bones when it takes aim. But too many shots are target practice shots that go astray and they wind up as blanks.