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Cast: Sammo Hung, Andy Lau, Eddie Peng , Li Qinqin, Jack Feng, Jacqueline Chan, Zhu Yuchen
Retired Special Agent Ding (Sammo Hung) makes a home in a quiet village on the Russia / China border. He befriends a young girl whose father, in debt with the mob, disappears - leaving her in Ding’s care. Now he must recall his superior strategic and tactical skills to save both their lives.
"The Bodyguard" tells the story of Ding, a retired Secret Agent who now lives quietly in a small village near the China/Russian border. Ding is suffering from early dementia. His landlord has a thing for him but he is not interested. He does find a friend in a little girl who lives with her dead beat dad. When her father is killed and Cherry Li goes missing he must use all the memory he has left in order to use his skills to fight off a local gang and a Russian gang in order to say Cherry Li and himself.
"The Bodyguard" did not get many good reviews but I think the reason is because it was billed as an action film when in reality it only has two fight scenes in the film. The film is more a crime/drama with the main character suffering from dementia. Sammo Hung directs and stars in the film as Ding. Like anyone else age catches up to us all so I guess this is a more suitable role for him now. It is certainly less demanding although the two fight scenes he is in he kicks some major ass.
Ding has never gotten over his granddaughter going missing while he was watching her, she was never found and his daughter has not spoken to him since. I suppose it is the reason he takes to Cherry Li the way he does, because of the guilt and all. This is a well-acted film and even though it is mostly a drama it still moves at a nice pace and the action scenes were all well choreographed by Hung as well.
Besides Hung the film as an impressive cast including Andy Lau and Eddie Peng. There are also several cameos in the film to keep an eye out for including, Yuen Baio and Tsui Hark to name a few. Production wise the film looks and sounds fantastic but that seems to be what you get with Asian cinema nowadays.
I probably enjoyed the film more than most because I went into it blind and wasn't expecting tons of action. I liked the story, the acting and the fight scenes were very good but could have been great had they not been filmed so tight. At times some of the moves are just a blur. That being said I do recommend the film to fans of Asian cinema. If this is the kind of role we will be seeing Sammo Hung in from now on I say bring it. I thought he did a fantastic job in a much more dramatic role. "The Bodyguard" is available now on DVD and Blu-ray with Special Features that include:
Making Of
Trailer
You can order the DVD HERE and the Blu-ray HERE.
This may not be Sammo Hung's best film but it is pretty damn entertaining and it shows he still has a fight or two left in him.
Released by Well Go USA
*** 3/4 Out Of *****