A strong chemistry in a romantic movie

Film review: The Bounty Hunter

MANILA, Philippines - Before going to the polls to test the efficiency of automated elections (and getting migraine, in case the PCOS machines did not work, and heartache, if deserving candidates failed to make it), I coaxed my entire family to relax and watch a movie with me. My choice was of course, as expected by my husband and two kids, The Bounty Hunter, for two reasons: Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler. I have always been a fan of Jennifer since her Brad Pitt days while Gerard is the reason I will forever remember the movie 300.

The Bounty Hunter is an action cum romantic comedy that revolves around the relationship of a divorced couple who by circumstances brought about by their jobs, find each other again. The movie starts with Jennifer as the news reporter, Nicole Hurley, who is on the lead to discovering a crime cover-up. Determined to get to the bottom of the story, she fails to attend a court hearing on her bail for a case earlier filed against her, making her a fugitive from justice with a price on her head. Her case falls into the lap of former husband, Nilo Boyd, played by Gerard, now a bounty hunter (I honestly never knew there was really a job with that nomenclature), who could not believe his good fortune. Nilo thinks that capturing his former wife was piece of cake until he gets enmeshed into the web of the police syndicate that actually wanted to kill his ex-wife for knowing too much.

Jennifer as the reporter was tough and steely in her determination to ferret out the truth and was confident of her investigative talents as well as of her sexy body and gorgeous legs, which she displays for almost the entire movie in her short, black, tight-fitting dress. (Can someone please explain to me how she could have such a small waistline at that age?) When it came to matters of the heart though, Nicole (Jennifer) was not as resolute as she was in her investigation and wavered as to whether she should get back to her former husband or not. Exasperated by the fact that she could not escape from her ex, who was equally determined to bring her to the police so he could savor the $5,000 reward, Jennifer credibly shed tears of longing for the days when the two of them were still very madly in love with each other hoping against hope that her ex would finally get to understand the predicament she was in. I felt tears trickling down my cheeks as Jennifer cried upon seeing the place where they had their honeymoon and as Gerard began to understand the stabbing pain that she truly felt.

While other people would rather make Gerard stick to more serious flicks, I found him quite funny and loveable in this film. The fact that he accepted doing this role means he wants to show the world that he could be good at anything and everything. Gosh, he even did some dangerous stunts himself including jumping off from a building. When he and Jennifer would look into each other’s eyes, you could feel that yes, although they were very much afraid to show it, they were still very much in love. It is also during these moments when the audience would ask themselves, “Did they or didn’t they… in real life?” … Hahaha!)

Christine Baranski (of Mamma Mia), the supporting actress who is the third highlight of the movie as the fabulous and aging performer-mother of Nicole, makes the audience laugh every time she appears on screen. She is so good that even if she has not uttered a word, people are already chuckling. If I were the director of the movie, I would have loved playing with this cougar mom’s role and given her more laugh-out-loud scenes.

The movie’s fast pace will not make you feel bored. The sexy bods of the two lead characters and their strong chemistry will keep your eyes glued on the screen. All in all, this movie, albeit temporarily, will definitely ease the pain you feel for candidates you felt should have won in the recent elections. So go now go, and be the one to catch, The Bounty Hunter.

(E-mail me at [email protected] or text 0927-5000833. Help build houses for the poor through the Gawad Kalinga by calling 718-1738 to 41 or text 0917-5239777.)