So just over the horizon, after clearing a couple of weeks, Labor Day looms over the cinematic landscape. Not only is it a time for heading back to school and cooler temps, but at the multiplex, it ushers in more serious somber fare. So the studios want Summer to go out with a bang, actually several “bangs” with the release of this weekend’s high body count thriller. Sure, we’ve had several action flicks in F9, JUNGLE CRUISE, and BLACK WIDOW, but nothing that’s gotten really, well, messy and R-rated since THE HITMAN’S WIFE’S BODYGUARD a couple of months ago, which followed NOBODY. We haven’t had a visit from that efficient Mr. Wick in a couple of years now. So, in the meantime, how about a “Joan Wick”, a ruthless female super-assassin? Well, this weekend the bullets will be flying, courtesy of the lady known as THE PROTEGE.
Her story begins with a flashback thirty years ago to the bloody backstreets of Vietnam, as an American “free agent” named Moody (Samuel L. Jackson) walks into the aftermath of a bloody shootout and tries to befriend the only survivor, a pre-teen local girl clutching a still-warm pistol. Flash-forward to today, as Moody and the adult lass, now named Anna (Maggie Q) are concluding their latest mission in Bulgaria. They’re mercenaries for hire, but they only take out the “bad ones”. After the job is done they return to London where Anna runs a posh exclusive rare bookstore and Moody “chills” at his country estate while nursing a truly nasty cough (which could do him in, before his rivals get the chance). During his brief birthday celebration, he gives her a new “gig”, locating, “only finding” the now-grown son of a long-deceased business tycoon. The next day, Anna encounters an odd, but attractive book client named Rembrandt (Michael Keaton) who’s more interested in her than the literary rarities. Later that night her world crashes. Heavily armed thugs destroy the shop in an attempt on her life. Returning to Moody’s mansion, Anna sees that he was not as lucky. She vows to complete the job, which will hopefully “smoke out” the culprits. But in exacting her revenge, Anna must return to Vietnam for a most bloody homecoming. As she delves into the mystery, will those shadowy killers finish the “hit”?
The confident Ms. Q seems to be more than up for the task of carrying the lead in a “go-for-broke” energetic action-thriller after working on several TV shows over the years, most notably the lead in the CW series “Nikita”. As she’s eluding the hordes of hitmen, Q shows us how Anna’s mind is racing for the quickest solution to the problem (often an escape route, but more likely brutal retaliation). In between battles, she displays a knack for humor, imbuing much of the dialogue with a fun, off-the-cuff delivery. That’s the case for her exchanges with Jackson’s Moody, the type of role he can effortlessly toss off like a comfy old robe. Saddling him with a frequent cough just seems like a Camille-like affectation to give Moody a bit more urgency and a tragic future outlook. The flick’s real MVP may be the always surprising Keaton, who should be snatching up the grumpy but sweet grandpa’ roles as he hits the big 7-0. Instead, he’s proving his worth as a sexy (the grey hair adds to his rascally charm) action hero. His confident swagger extends both to the big action set-pieces (talk about kitchen calamities) to his playful banter with Q, almost making us forget the huge “age gap”…almost (this after he seems a bit creepy in his bookstore pick-up try). As a bonus, there’s a supporting role for a past terminator Robert Patrick, though he’s doing a crusty ole’ biker version of Bond’s Q “provider’ when he’s not cruisin’ the ‘Nam countryside in a variety of too-tight jean vests.
Speaking of Bond, this flick is helmed (and the marketers feature this prominently in the poster) by 007 vet (2006’s CASINO ROYALE) Martin Campbell, who tries to bring some of that same vitality to the big stunt set-pieces. Unfortunately, his efforts are tripped up by a needlessly complex script and an overall nasty attitude, embracing the R-rating as a way to proclaim how “radical’ and “edgy” it is. The many flashbacks of Moody and teen Anna in Vietnam derail any sort of momentum, while the roster of snarling Euro-kingpins makes little impact with the “big boss’ a near-lifeless “dud”. And though I hate to use the “double G’ combo, I found much of the gore so gratuitous, meant to shock and even titillate (did we knew to see a fountain of blood from the bottom of a poorly sculpted severed head). As with many action-extravaganzas, the film has multiple endings, none very engaging (much like this weekend’s other release). This is worth catching for fans of Keaton (and his career’s amazing ongoing third act), but the filmmakers don’t know what to do with the bullet-ridden banter between him and Q, actually dodging any real dramatic consummation. This is a “last gasp of Summer” throwaway potboiler that may distract and engage the adrenaline “junkies” but most audiences won’t recall THE PROTEGE by the Fall. Nice locales though (who knew Bulgaria could double for Southeast Asia).
2 Out of 4
THE PROTEGE opens in theatres everywhere on 8/20/21
