The Protégé (2021)

The Protégé (2021)

 

3/10

Starring

Maggie Q

Samuel L. Jackson

Michael Keaton

 

Directed by Martin Campbell

 

When I finished watching this movie, I had one question: what was the purpose of Michael Keaton’s character?

Most of the time, he wasn’t even present, and when he was, he felt completely disconnected from what was happening. It’s like they zoned him out, then remembered, "Oh, he’s getting paid for this," and threw him a few things to do here and there.

The movie is confusing. It feels like the writer and director couldn’t decide where they wanted it to go. There’s a romance subplot that’s completely ridiculous, unnecessary thriller scenes, and a plot so convoluted you’re left wondering why they bothered linking all these elements together. You keep watching, hoping everything will tie together nicely by the end. Spoiler: it doesn’t. The movie just ends, and there’s barely any signoff.

The plot starts with Moody (Samuel L. Jackson) going into a home in Vietnam where a massacre has taken place. He searches the house and finds a girl (Anna, played by Maggie Q) hiding, pointing a gun at him. Moody takes her under his wing and turns her into a badass assassin, just like him.

We get glimpses of their lives and the covers they use to get by. Moody is ill, and Anna seems worried about him. Then one day, Anna goes to his place and finds out he’s been killed. The movie shifts into revenge mode as Anna sets off to track down whoever murdered her mentor. But somewhere along the way, the story starts to wrap itself around Anna’s past, dragging in people with ties to the Vietnam War and their shady agendas.

When the man being protected is killed at the end, you’re left wondering why the movie wasted so much time running in circles around such a boring character. And seriously, can we agree that the whole "villain monologue before they’re killed" trope is beyond tired at this point?

Maggie Q has always struck me as someone Hollywood should’ve elevated into superstardom by now. But life, I guess, isn’t fair. Instead, she gets stuck in this mess of a movie when there are far better roles she deserves. This film doesn’t do justice to her range and completely wastes her talent.

As for Jackson, it’s the same story: another movie where he runs around with a gun. Nothing new to see here.

Saying this movie "blows through with no life" might sound too harsh, but honestly, its existence feels unnecessary. And so does the need for you to watch it.