The Hitman's Bodyguard

If you are after a comedy that actually makes you laugh out loud, The Hitman's Bodyguard is available in Australia on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, and in the US on HBO Max Amazon Channel and YouTube TV right now. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. 6,715 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Watch it for Ryan Reynolds — stay for everyone else around them. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Netflix.

The Hitman's Bodyguard is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. Sharp writing and a well-matched ensemble are what separate The Hitman's Bodyguard from the crowd. The world’s top bodyguard gets a new client, a hitman who must testify at the International Court of Justice. They must put their differences aside and work together to make it to the trial on time. Between them, Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson carry the comedy without ever forcing it. It was released in 2017. The timing in The Hitman's Bodyguard is precise enough that even the throwaway lines land on a second watch. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Comedy fans looking for a reliably funny watch will find it in The Hitman's Bodyguard. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Ryan Reynolds is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.