Movie Breakdown: The Protégé

Pre-Screening Stance:

Martin Campbell has directed some good films, such Casino Royale, Goldeneye and The Mask Of Zorro, and a few stinkers, like Green Lantern, Vertical Limit and The Legend Of Zorro. Frankly, I’ve yet to get a read on The Protégé, but I’m hoping it’s one of his better ones.

Post-Screening Ramble:

The Protégé has a lot of nice pieces, but they’re not really assembled in a way that makes for a memorable movie. The film’s most bland portion is its plot – Anna (Maggie Q) is a super assassin seeking revenge for the assassination of her super assassin mentor/friend/father figure, Moody (Samuel L. Jackson). You’d think that with so many assassins involved that there would be some real twists and turns in the story, but it offers up no surprises and just generally feels very paint by numbers. I did like the flirty, cat and mouse subplot between Anna and a foe named Rembrandt (Michael Keaton), as Q and Keaton have good chemistry, but the film never commits to it and instead keeps its focus on her middling mission. As far as the action goes, it’s solid. Director Martin Campbell gives those scenes a bit of pop, and Q certainly holds her own physically. I think the film could have used one or two big set pieces, but that might also be because I hit a point where I just wanted some sort of spike to pull me back into it.

In the end, The Protégé is pretty harmless. It takes no chances and simply aims be a competent film, which it is. This approach, however, keeps it from being anywhere close to the realm of interesting, and that’s why you shouldn’t be in any hurry to see it. The movie opens in theaters today, August 20.

One Last Thought:

Maggie Q has a very alluring presence on the screen, and I’m surprised that she hasn’t garnered larger roles over the years.