The Protégé Movie Review

“The Protégé” believes that old movie plot ideas can be done with a new twist and with new characters and still be a rip-roaring experience. They would be correct in that thinking, because this movie finds a unique place to become a globe-trotting revenge fight-fest and shoot-out that makes the best use of the excellent cast.

The main character is Anna (played by Maggie Q), but when she is a young child in Viet Nam, her family is murdered and she is taken by a gang. She is rescued by a mysterious man named Moody (played by Samuel L. Jackson). Thirty years later, Anna works as a skilled assassin under the leadership of Moody. He is the worlds best, so they say – and Moody is saving a special place for Anna. They both live in London. Moody had been in the hit man business for years, and his retirement seems to be a seriously chronic disease that he cannot shake. Moody has one last job to do before he pulls his final trigger.

Moody gives Anna the name of a person, from back in 1991. But after researching about this guy (a young child back then) all the people around Anna that helped her wind up dead. That includes Moody. Anna goes on the run, and she ends up back in Viet Nam. One of Moody’s friends who live there can help. Billy Boy (played by Robert Patrick) gets her further information. But her information about the mystery person leads to a man named Rembrandt (played by Michael Keaton). He is not the top dude that she is looking for, but he can help find him.

Anna gets to see this top dude that Moody sent her out to locate. But then he suddenly turns out to NOT be the one in charge. The people who killed her friends are still gunning for her. Rembrandt is also involved, but Anna is of sure which side he favors. She finds Rembrandt rather charming, for a sleazy cold-blooded killer.  Rembrandt also thinks highly of Anna, but would put two bullets in her brain bucket — if need be…

Anna is able to use an unspooling fire hose in a way that would make John McClain proud. Anna is captured by a gang of goons, but soon she finds a way to get out. Mostly over many dead bodies. Rembrandt still works for the Top Evil Dude guy, but he thinks more highly of Anna. Anna, who is super a bad-ass warrior, might also have a certain worm feeling about Rembrandt. Then they finally get into some hand-to-hand combat and brutal bludgeoning. But then: Rembrandt comes out and says what are both thinking — Would we rather fight to the finish, or try out a little Horizontal Mambo?

Rembrandt and Anna go different ways, but his Top Evil Dude boss needs some special security for a big event as it house. Rembrandt knows that Anna will try and be there to poke a few bullet holes into his boss Mr. Top Evil Dude. What he doesn’t know is that she might bring along an old friend.  Anna make a move, but she does not kill Mr. T.E.D. Rembrandt goes after Anna to kill her. But how could a super-profession assassin miss such an easy target like Mr. T.E.D? Mr. T.E.D was put into a secured bunker by himself, so he is safe there, right?

“The Protégé” takes a few pieces here and there from other movies. The movie “Léon: The Professional” has a hit-man ‘adopt’ a young girl who’s family has been murdered. The movie “Mr. and Mrs. Smith: has a pair of professional assassins who happen to fall in love. But with this talented cast (Maggie Q, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Keaton) this movie can make a good stand on its own terms.

Maggie Q is cool and deadly as a bad-ass killer out to get revenge for her dead adopted ‘father’ figure. Michael Keaton plays this suave and ruthless bad guy, who just might make a change for the good – but the jury is still out.  Samuel L. Jackson does not need any special character traits, his personality is his character. He is enjoying every minute he is in during this movie.

“The Protégé” does a bang-up job with a talented director (Martin Campbell), leading all the action in various places around the globe. The production values look chic and stylish. The polished cast does great work, even when the plot might become thin. All in All, the movie really puts the “Pro” into “The Protégé”.