Here's why reviews aren't great for The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard, a sequel to the 2017 planned franchise-starter, The Hitman's Bodyguard. Patrick Hughes' film will almost certainly be better received than it was by critics, which is almost always the case for movies of its ilk, reviewers have been critical of the formulaic structure and uninspired comedy. In short, The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard suffers from a weak script, one that diminishes the talent of the leads.
Despite receiving mostly negative reviews, The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard does indeed have an impressive cast. Ryan Reynolds reprises his role as the put-upon bodyguard Michael Bryce, who attempts to regain his license four years after the events of the original film. Samuel L. Jackson co-stars as hitman Darius Kincaid, who is rescued by Bryce and then collaborates with him for a special U.S. government mission, one that's designed to take down Greek baddie Aristotle Papadopoulos (Antonio Banderas). Salma Hayek rounds out the main cast as Darius' wife, Sonia - a foul-mouthed woman who wishes to become a mother and keeps a close eye on Bryce. Based on The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard's ending, producers are clearly planning for a third franchise installment.
The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard currently has a 28 percent Tomatometer score at Rotten Tomatoes, along with an 86 percent audience rating from lucky fans and influencers who got to see advanced screenings. Overall, critics have collectively implied that The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard feels unimaginative and predictable, a sequel that aims to do little more capitalize upon the original film's success and the main cast's star power. To put it simply, The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard succeeds as a cash grab but fails to innovate the genre with its storytelling and jokes. Here are some takes from top critics on the 2021 action comedy film.
"It would be hard to imagine an R-rated action comedy more tedious and unengaging than 'The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard'... were it not for the existence of 'The Hitman's Bodyguard,' the 2017 sleep aid to which this sequel is a worthy successor."
"Some may enjoy the cacophonous, raunchy, lowest-common-denominator dreck that 'The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard' has to offer. To those I say, Godspeed. But it's undeniable that the actors, the audiences, and the filmmakers all deserve better."
"Charitably, The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard represents the kind of unpretentious diversion that audiences can use as they venture out, in a summer where calling something 'silly' sounds less pejorative. For all that, it really should be more fun than it is."
"The impression is of a creative team laughing that they're getting away with this again, like a group of bank robbers howling as they round the block in their getaway car, then circling back to nonchalantly knock off the same place again."
"The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard has been designed with viewers who are unfamiliar with the first film in mind, which makes a great deal of sense, since it's hard to imagine anyone who saw it would voluntarily sit through a second."
The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard may not be a classic, but it still serves a purpose beyond all the popcorn thrills. Hayek receives a much larger role in the sequel, and deservedly so, as she's an Oscar-nominated actress with a resume that dates back to mid-90s collaborations with Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino. Audiences mostly know what to expect with Reynolds and Jackson, but Hayek uplifts the film with her feisty performance. There's also a psychoanalytical component in The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard that could easily be overlooked by critics, as all three leads struggle with personal issues and their legacies. Of course, any mainstream blockbuster should include a substantial amount of character depth, but critics seem to be focusing on the most obvious flaws, rather than assessing what the film has to say about mental health and marital conflict. Here's are some other takes on the anticipated 2021 movie that seemingly appreciate the film's intent–or at least acknowledge it:
"It's really, really hard to work up any real hatred for a goofy action programmer in which Antonio Banderas plays a psychopathic billionaire named Aristotle Papadopolous."
Nation Newspaper Publishers Association:
"This kind of senseless debauchery and mayhem can put a smirk on your face."
"It's just pretty much bang/bang/banter ("Capri? Like the pants?"), bang/chase/explosion/wisecrack ("Your mouth needs an exorcism") in a variety of colorful locations."
"Gorgeously captured by cinematographer Terry Stacey and keenly scripted with barbed dialogue from Tom O'Connor, Brandon Murphy, and Phillip Murphy."
Now that movie theaters are re-opening, audiences can expect their overall assessments of blockbusters to be vastly different than critics. In general, it seems like people hope for a smooth transition from home streaming to a theatrical experience, which means that many will seek out films that are purely thrilling rather than challenging. The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard may be an entertaining movie, but that doesn't mean it's a good movie. Still, that might be enough for audiences right now.