Review: THE HITMAN'S BODYGUARD Opening August 18

THE HITMAN'S BODYGUARD looks like an anti-buddy film, but opposites soon attract when two rivals are thrown into harm's way.

Michael Bryce (Ryan Reynolds) is/was a "triple-A-rated executive protection agent" and Darius Kincaid (Samuel L. Jackson) is the most-wanted hitman in the world.

Their paths cross again when Bryce's former girlfriend and Interpol agent (Elodie Yung) pairs them up for a last resort transport, so Kincaid can testify against brutal Russian dictator Vladislav Dukhovich (Gary Oldman).

Seems easy enough until writer Tom O'Connor borrows from his thriller FIRE WITH FIRE and director Patrick Hughes (EXPENDABLES 3) upstages some of the most memorable James Bond chase scenes with nearly 100 stunt performers.

THE HITMAN'S BODYGUARD delivers on everything its trailers promise, including Salma Hayek as Kincaid's cut-you-as-soon-as-look-at-you wife, plus lots and lots of action.

As my theater-going buddy Brandon put it, "Compared to THE DARK TOWER, this movie is an Oscar contender!" Maybe so, if bullets were ballots.