Netflix Friday - Volume 98

Some Netflix film tips for the weekend! And there is something for everyone, since I picked a movie for all the different genres.
 

Action: Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard (2021)
The bodyguard, Michael Bryce (Ryan Reynolds), continues his friendship with assassin, Darius Kincaid (Samuel L. Jackson), as they try to save Darius’ wife Sonia.
 

Drama: Big Fish (2003)
A frustrated son (Billy Crudup) tries to determine the fact from fiction in his dying father’s (Albert Finney) life.
 

Comedy: American Pie 2 (2001)
Jim (Jason Biggs) and his friends are now in college, and they decide to meet up at the beach house for some fun.
 

Animation: The Wind Rises (2013)
A look at the life of Jiro Horikoshi, the man who designed Japanese fighter planes during World War II.
 

Romance: Life as We Know It (2010)
Two single adults (Katherine Heigl, Josh Duhamel) become caregivers to an orphaned girl when their mutual best friends die in an accident.
 

Horror: The Unholy (2021)
A hearing-impaired girl is visited by the Virgin Mary and can suddenly hear, speak and heal the sick. As people flock to witness her miracle, terrifying events unfold. Are they the work of the Virgin Mary or something much more sinister?
 

Science Fiction: The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
After Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) is bitten by a genetically altered spider, he gains newfound, spider-like powers and ventures out to save the city from the machinations of a mysterious reptile foe (Rhys Ifans).
 

Crime: The Town (2010)
A proficient group of thieves rob a bank and hold Claire (Rebecca Hall), the assistant manager, hostage. Things begin to get complicated when one of the crew members (Ben Affleck) falls in love with Claire.
 

Thriller: 1922 (2017)
A simple yet proud farmer (Thomas Jane) in the year 1922 conspires to murder his wife for financial gain, convincing his teenage son to assist. But their actions have unintended consequences.
 

Documentary: Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives (2022)
After marrying a mysterious man who claimed he could make her dog immortal, a celebrated vegan restauranteur finds her life veering off the rails.
 

Family: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019)
Against all the odds, a thirteen-year-old boy in Malawi invents an unconventional way to save his family and village from famine.

Movie Review - Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard

Director: Patrick Hughes
Genre: Action/ Comedy/ Crime
Runtime: 117 minutes
Year: 2021
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, Salma Hayek, Morgan Freeman, Antonio Banderas

Description: The bodyguard Michael Bruce (Ryan Reynolds) continues his friendship with assassin Darius Kincaid (Samuel L. Jackson) as they try to save Darius’ wife Sonia (Salma Hayek).

Review: As much as I liked “The Hitman’s Bodyguard”, it didn’t exactly scream for a sequel. On the other hand, buddy action comedies are extremely rare these days (gosh, I miss those 80s and 90s buddy cop movies), so if capitalizing on this mild success is the only way to keep this type somewhat alive: so be it. “The Hitman’s Bodyguard” still had a solid trump card that wasn’t fully played: Salma Hayek as the scene-stealing wife of the titular hitman. So it makes sense that her supporting role has been upgraded to one of the three leads and she has been given a prominent place not only on the poster, but even in the title.
This time, bodyguard Michael Bryce not only gets stuck with hitman Darius Kincaid, but also with his equally disturbed wife Sonia. This development manages to shake p the dynamic quite a bit. Where Bryce and Kincaid were still equivalent opposites in the first part, this time Bryce is in the minority. He is at the mercy of a couple who behave like children, but treat him as is he were their child. Of course, the coarse -tongued Sonia gets all the attention, to which actress Salma Hayek gives herself over with visible pleasure. Fortunately, the bond between Bryce and Kincaid is not completely forgotten. And while the events of the first film may have created some mutual respect between the two, it by no means mean that they are friends now.
Whereas the first part was set in Western Europe, part two is set in the Mediterranean territory, playing on the tension between Greece and the European Union. Now I’m sure that relationship is still no optimal, but this plot point would have been a lot more topical ten years ago.
“Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard” is flat, nonsensical and lacks the straightforwardness of its predecessor. It’s a fairly easy fill-in-the-blanks exercise that hardly deviates from what made the first part so successful. And yet, again, there isn’t too much to dislike. The actors have fine chemistry, there are some solidly executed chases, and while not every joke hits the mark, there are plenty that will make you laugh. In other times, a film like this would probably have been casually tossed aside as a pointless interlude, but in a time when lavish blockbusters rule the roost, this kind of unpretentious entertainment may deserve a little more benefit of the doubt.

Rating: 3,5/ 5