The Hitman's Bodyguard (2017)
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A disgraced bodyguard must team up with the hitman he once failed to protect to take down a vicious dictator.
The story
Michael Bryce, a successful UK-based private bodyguard, sees his life fall apart after his client is assassinated. Two years later, he survives by protecting drug-addicted corporate executives. Meanwhile, the vicious Belarusian dictator Vladislav Dukhovich is on trial for crimes against humanity. The prosecution's last hope is hitman Darius Kincaid, who agrees to testify against Dukhovich in exchange for his wife's release from prison. When an armed convoy escorting Kincaid is ambushed, the sole survivor, Interpol Agent Amelia Roussel, enlists the help of her ex-boyfriend, Bryce, to protect Kincaid on the journey to The Hague.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Michael Bryce, a disgraced UK-based private bodyguard, is hired by Interpol Agent Amelia Roussel to escort hitman Darius Kincaid to The Hague. Kincaid is testifying against the Belarusian dictator Vladislav Dukhovich in exchange for his wife Sonia's freedom. During the journey, they are ambushed by Dukhovich's men, aided by a mole within Interpol, Jean Foucher. After reaching a safehouse, Bryce and Kincaid reconcile their past animosity, including the revelation that Kincaid killed Bryce's former client. They eventually reach The Hague, where Kincaid provides evidence of Dukhovich's crimes. Dukhovich attempts to escape by bombing the courthouse. In the chaos, Bryce takes a bullet meant for Kincaid. Bryce manages to shoot the traitor Foucher before Kincaid kills Dukhovich by kicking him off a roof. The film ends with Kincaid breaking out of prison to celebrate his anniversary with Sonia in Honduras.
- First release year
- 2017
- Runtime (minutes)
- 118
- Production countries
- Bulgaria; Hong Kong; Netherlands; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Patrick Hughes
- Writers
- Tom O'Connor · writer
- Cast and characters
- Ryan Reynolds · Michael Bryce; Samuel L. Jackson · Darius Kincaid; Gary Oldman · Vladislav Dukhovich; Salma Hayek · Sonia Kincaid; Élodie Yung · Amelia Roussel; Joaquim de Almeida · Jean Foucher; Kirsty Mitchell · Rebecca Harr; Richard E. Grant · Mr. Seifert
- Genres
- action; comedy; thriller
- Themes
- Redemption; Partnership; Justice
- Tone and mood
- Action-Comedy; Screwball; Ridiculous
- Setting
- United Kingdom, Netherlands, and Belarus in the present day.
- Premise and plot tags
- Buddy Comedy; Bodyguard; Courtroom Drama; Action Thriller
- Source material / true-story basis
- The Hitman's Bodyguard action script
- Franchise connections
- Hitman's Bodyguard
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the performances, action sequences, and the chemistry between Reynolds and Jackson, but criticized its plot and execution. It was a box office success, grossing over $176 million worldwide.
- Reported review scores
- PostTrak · score: 80%
- Production trivia
- The script was originally intended as a drama before being rewritten into a comedy.; The Coventry-based scenes were filmed in London.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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