Ryan Reynolds leads a pretty solidly packed cast in a fairly paint-by-numbers action film that despite its predictability is a lot of fun, largely in part because of the casting. Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, Salma Hayek, Gary Oldman, Richard E. Grant, and Joaquim de Almeida. That’s some pretty top-drawer talent, and they all look like they are having a pretty good time.

When Micheal Bryce (Reynolds), a world-class bodyguard, has a client killed right under his nose, his credibility takes a pummelling and he has to take whatever protection jobs he can get. Enter his ex, Amelia (Elodie Yung), an Interpol agent with an unusual request: escort a dangerous hitman, Darius Kincaid (Jackson) to the International Criminal Court in the Hague, located in the Netherlands to testify against a brutal Belarussian dictator, Dukhovich (Oldman).

Getting from the UK to the Netherlands is going to to put both bodyguard and hitman at odds, and what comes out of it is a delightfully violent riff on the buddy-cop genre filled with lots of great banter and lines from the entire cast.

The film also builds out the world, as the only way Darius will testify is if his wife, Sonia’s (Hayek) sentence is commuted. We get glimpses not only into their relationship, and Darius’ past, but Michael’s as well. Layering the characters like this certainly makes you care for them more, and then throwing them in larger-than-life action sequences, the climactic chase is brilliant, just makes you worry about them all the more.

But you know going in, the good guys are coming out on top, that justice will be served, and there will no doubt be a clever ending with Darius. All of these things are true, but that doesn’t mean the ride isn’t fun.

Hughes definitely has no issue with directing action sequences, and he knows how to get the best out of his locations, the stunt performers and his actors. What he delivers is a conflagration of explosions, gunfire, and brutal violence that edges right up to the edge of being a cartoon, but settles, comfortably, into popcorn entertainment.

Reynolds has always been extremely likeable, and you want him to have those snappy one-liners and reactions because that is now how we see him, and love him for it. Do I want to see him do something else to stretch himself sometimes? Sure. But will I ever say no to a big, loud, explosive action flick with him leading the cast?

Probably not.

Pairing up with Jackson makes for comedic gold, because Jackson leans into his onscreen image as well, and consequently you can tell that they are all having fun doing what they are doing. Or it sure looks that way.

Obviously, they felt that way as well, because they came back for a sequel, Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard that I’m going to have to check out shortly!