Today’s quick review: The Bodyguard. Mr. Ding (Sammo Hung), a retired bodyguard suffering from dementia, spends his days with Cherry (Jacqueline Chan), a vivacious young girl who lives nearby. But when Cherry’s deadbeat father, Li Zheng Jiu (Andy Lau), runs out on his debt to Choi Dong Hen (Jack Feng), a local mob boss, Choi goes after Cherry to get him to pay up. Mr. Ding must protect the girl from Choi’s thugs using the skills he learned as a bodyguard.
The Bodyguard is a martial arts action movie that blends bone-crushing combat with a heartfelt story. The movie focuses on the relationship between Mr. Ding and Cherry, one that is violently interrupted by Choi and his lackeys. The Bodyguard features skilled martial arts, themes of friendship and old age, and brief touches of comedy. However, its bittersweet tone, back-loaded action, and inexpert storytelling prevent it from having its intended impact.
The Bodyguard suffers from a few issues that keep it from excelling as either an action movie or a drama. The pacing starts off fine but slows down drastically towards the middle. There’s not as much action as other martial arts movies, and the stunts are not as daring or spectacular. The plot has the right idea, but the threads never come together as neatly as they should. The film’s sadder moments also mesh poorly with its lighter ones.
Still, The Bodyguard toys with a few interesting ideas. The film goes to great lengths to show the emptiness in Mr. Ding’s life as a result of his age, his failing memory, and his estrangement from his family. His relationship with Cherry is sweet, if not perfectly executed. And while the martial arts shown in the film are limited by the lead’s age, they are still impressive for the intricate choreography and technical skill on display.
Watch The Bodyguard when you’re looking for something a little more thoughtful than the usual martial arts flick. Though not entirely satisfying, The Bodyguard is interesting enough to be worth a watch for the curious. Skip it if you’re looking for a typical action romp. For a more skillful crime movie with a similar premise, check out The Professional. For a near-future sci-fi movie that deals with the effects of senility, check out Robot & Frank.
5.9 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for decent action and a story that’s only partially successful.