Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson have great chemistry in The Hitman’s Bodyguard, an action comedy that recalls the popular buddy films of the 1980s.
The Production: 4/5
After losing one of his clients in an assassination, bodyguard Michael Bryce (Ryan Reynolds) is down on his luck, his triple-A executive protection agent rating stripped, forcing him to guard cocaine-addicted accountants running ponzi schemes from the crime lords he’s duped, and driving a Ford C Max instead of a more luxurious make and model. He blames his ex-girlfriend, Interpol agent Amelia Roussel (Elodie Yung), who has been tasked to escort expert hitman Darius Kincaid (Samuel L. Jackson) to the Hague to testify against former Belarusian dictator Vladislav Dukhovich (Gary Oldman), who is on trial for genocide, in exchange for his wife (Salma Hayek) getting a pardon and released from jail (we never find out what she is incarcerated for). There is a mole at Interpol, and the exchange goes sideways when the transport vehicle is ambushed by Dukhovich’s men. Amelia turns to Bryce, the only man she believes can deliver Kincaid in one piece safely. As luck would have it, these two have a history, with Kincaid attempting to take out Bryce on multiple occasions. Their hatred for one another, combined with Dukhovich’s men in hot pursuit, make this transport a bumpy ride.
The Hitman’s Bodyguard was a surprise late summer hit, and deservedly so. Reynolds and Jackson have great chemistry together, at first getting on each other’s nerves but ultimately gaining respect for one another as they save each other’s necks after several narrow escapes. Director Patrick Hughes (The Expendables 3) places a lot of humor in his action set pieces that complement the violence and mayhem, while keeping the film at a mostly even pace, with very few points where the film drags. One word of caution, though, as the film is loaded with expletives (Jackson, alone, includes close to 120 in his dialogue), although that did not necessarily bother me.
Video: 5/5
3D Rating: NA
The Hitman’s Bodyguard was captured on a variety of different digital cameras (including Arri Alexa XT, GoPro Hero 4 Black, and RED Epic Dragon, to name a few) at 3.4k resolution and completed as a 4K digital intermediate with Dolby Vision HDR. Lionsgate’s 2160p transfer used on this UHD Blu-ray release includes both Dolby Vision and HDR10. My equipment is only capable of HDR10 playback, and the result is still worthy of five stars. Fine detail is excellent throughout, not just in close-ups of actor’s faces, but in wide vistas as well. Colors have more natural gradations, providing a more realistic look overall. Contrast is excellent with deep blacks and solid whites, although contrast does seem a bit off during the opening sequence, but that may be an artistic decision based on the director’s commentary track.
Audio: 5/5
The Dolby Atmos track is a delight, with pinpoint placement of sounds during many of the action sequences, such as helicopters flying overhead and bullets whizzing by your ears. Quieter sequences use the heights for additional atmospheric sounds for added reality. LFE is strong, giving your subwoofer a chance to workout without being overbearing. Dialogue is clear and understandable, never getting lost in the mix.
Special Features: 3.5/5
As standard issue with Lionsgate titles, all of the special features have been included on the UHD disc.
Audio Commentary with Director Patrick Hughes: Recorded during the film’s second week of theatrical release, Hughes discusses the production, working with the film’s actors, etc. It’s an average commentary track, with occasional dead passages.
Outtakes (1080p; 5:23): Bloopers galore.
Deleted Scenes (1080p; 4:44): Four scenes from the cutting room floor that can be played as one feature or individually; Call for Help, Get Ivan, A Leader Leads, and Making Plans,
Extended Scenes (1080p; 2:59): Four extended scenes that can be played as one feature or individually; Getting Out Alive, Is That Your Car?, I Live in this Building, and Welcome to Amsterdam.
Alternate Scenes (1080p): Two scenes, Breaking Protocol (1:15) and Confrontation on Roof (2:09).
The Hitman’s Bodyguard: A Love Story (1080p; 8:56): focusing on the relationships in the film.
Hitman vs. Bodyguard (1080p; 4:23): A character study, of sorts, on Reynolds and Jackson’s characters.
Dangerous Women (1080p; 8:22): A look at the two main female characters in the film.
Big Action in a Big World (1080p; 7:53): A look at some of the stunt set pieces from the film.
Digital HD Copy: An insert contains a code to redeem a digital HD version of the film through UltraViolet partners.
Overall: 4.5/5
The Hitman’s Bodygurd is a surprisingly entertaining action comedy that plays off the chemistry of its two main leads. Video and audio presentation are excellent, although the extras are a bit on the fluff side.
Todd Erwin has been a reviewer at Home Theater Forum since 2008. His love of movies began as a young child, first showing Super 8 movies in his backyard during the summer to friends and neighbors at age 10. He also received his first movie camera that year, a hand-crank Wollensak 8mm with three fixed lenses. In 1980, he graduated to "talkies" with his award-winning short The Ape-Man, followed by the cult favorite The Adventures of Terrific Man two years later. Other films include Myth or Fact: The Talbert Terror and Warren's Revenge (which is currently being restored). In addition to movie reviews, Todd has written many articles for Home Theater Forum centering mostly on streaming as well as an occasional hardware review, is the host of his own video podcast Streaming News & Views on YouTube and is a frequent guest on the Home Theater United podcast.
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