The (mismatched) buddy comedy genre is pretty well worn territory, but it can still be a hoot if pulled off with panache. Certainly, personalities don’t get much bigger than Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson, as they get in each other’s way in “The Hitman’s Bodyguard.”
The action comedy runs with a pretty simple premise, with a protection agent tasked with protecting a notorious hitman who is set to testify at trial. Of course, many hilarious misunderstandings and bickering follows. Here’s the official synopsis:
The world’s top protection agent is called upon to guard the life of his mortal enemy, one of the world’s most notorious hitmen. The relentless bodyguard and manipulative assassin have been on the opposite end of the bullet for years and are thrown together for a wildly outrageous 24 hours. During their raucous and hilarious adventure from England to the Hague, they encounter high-speed car chases, outlandish boat escapades and a merciless Eastern European dictator who is out for blood. Salma Hayek joins the mayhem as Jackson’s equally notorious wife.
Co-starring Gary Oldman, Salma Hayek, Elodie Yung, Joaquim De Almeida, Kirsty Mitchell, with Richard E. Grant, “The Hitman’s Bodyguard” opens on August 18th.