The Protege Review: An Unexpectedly Enjoyable Cat And Mouse Assassination Game

Release date: August 20, 2021
Running time: 109 minutes
Directed by: Martin Campbell
Screenplay by: Richard Wenk
Cast: Maggie Q, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Keaton, Robert Patrick

Rescued as a child by the legendary assassin Moody (Samuel L. Jackson) and trained in the family business, Anna (Maggie Q) is the world’s most skilled contract killer. But when Moody – the man who was like a father to her and taught her everything she needs to know about trust and survival – is brutally killed, Anna vows revenge. As she becomes entangled with an enigmatic killer (Michael Keaton) whose attraction to her goes way beyond cat and mouse, their confrontation turns deadly, and the loose ends of a life spent killing will weave themselves ever tighter.

I expected The Protege to be a cash grab from some older actors, but the film is a pleasant surprise.  From the start I liked the setup in this film.  And that will depend a lot on how much you like the three main characters.  Samuel L. Jackson is fun as Moody.  It is a very Samuel L. Jackson role, and you will know what to expect from his other films.  And Maggie Q as Anna was also a pleasant surprise; she is confident and capable, but able to appear less so when needed.  And wow was it great to see Michael Keaton back on the big screen as their rival.  

But what the Protege does best is know its limits and not try to do too much.  The action itself is not overdone, with generally quick and efficient deaths and action sequences that both fit in with the assassin style and also don't make it seem too ridiculous.  The movie also moves the story along nicely, although there is a bit too much mystery at the start for my taste.  This leaves it open for the viewer to discover more later, but it still felt like some aspects were intentionally obfuscated at the start.  

The story itself is enjoyable, with a trickle feed of information as you learn more about Moody and Anna's past, as well as the backgrounds of some of the more mysterious characters in this film.  And overall, the interplay between them all is a lot of fun.  You get plenty of sarcasm, machismo, and a healthy amount of chauvinism towards Anna throughout, and she continuously proves to be far more dangerous than the male assassins and thugs in the film anticipate.  However, the film isn't perfect and suffers from a let down of an ending and an overall lack of female characters.  It was strange for a movie that has such a strong female lead to not include some other prominent females, but maybe it was trying to showcase Anna trying to overcome obstacles in a man's world.  But overall, The Protege was an unexpected surprise.

The Protege's great cast, fun chemistry between the lead characters, and understated but brutal action make this one assassin film that is on target. 

Watch it.

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The Protege is in theaters on August 20, 2021.  For showtimes, click here.

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