Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, and Salma Hayek return to cause problems, violence and dole out colourful language in the sequel to The Hitman’s Bodyguard, Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard. Director Patrick Hughes remains in the big chair and delivers a fast-paced sleek tale, that feels a little tighter in its storytelling, and its runtime.

Michael Bryce (Reynolds) is still lamenting his lost of his Triple A rating as a bodyguard, and is haunted by hitman Darius’ (Jackson) maniacal laughing. When his therapist orders him to take some time off and put bodyguarding behind him, Bryce heads to Italy to unwind and relax.

Unfortunately, a couple things are in the works, a powerful Greek man, Aristotle Papadopolous (Antonio Banderas) wants to bring down the EU for the sanctions on Greece. He’s gotten plans to target data junctions and disrupt the entire European Union. Interpol is on it, with Bobby O’Neill (Frank Grillo) working the investigation.

Bryce runs afoul of Sonia (Hayek) when she comes looking for him to help rescue Darius who is been captured by a data broker, with ties to Aristotle’s plan. Soon, everyone is after our trio, Interpol is using them, and Darius is stunned to learn that Sonia and Aristotle had a prior relationship.

There’s lots of violence, blood, and so much crude language that you can’t help but laugh at the variations.

There are twists and turns, a fun appearance by Richard E. Grant who returns from the first film, and a surprising revelation about Morgan Freeman’s character.

Reynolds is a little goofier this time around, but still able to handle, with ease, the action sequences, and he, Hayek and Jackson make a wonderful pairing. It doesn’t have the big chases of the first film, but there are some great action beats, some fantastic physical comedy, and some fun camera work.

Both films are highly enjoyable. Would I have gone to the theatre to see them? I don’t know. Are they perfectly entertaining for an evening on the couch with a bottle of wine and some snacks? You’d better believe it.

Reynolds, as always, is a lot of fun and is incredibly watchable, and pairing him up with Hayek, who remains a huge crush of mine, and Jackson lets all three of them elevate their comedic abilities as they all seem eager to top each other in the best way.

The ending suggests the possibility of a third film, but I’m not sure what the title of that one will be. These are loud, violent and hugely enjoyable films, they aren’t anything exceptional but they are exactly what you want from popcorn entertainment.

Check ’em out!