“The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard” is as convoluted and crazy as its title. I still can’t wrap my head around the title, and I saw the film.

“The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard” is a fun, sharp-tongued, witty, extremely violent send-up of the espionage thriller genre.

Think “James Bond” meets “The Bourne Identity” meets “Mission: Impossible” meets “The Kingsman: Secret Service” meets “Austin Powers,” and also meets “Pulp Fiction” meets “Looney Tunes” and “Merrie Melodies” The Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote.

What powers “The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard” is a nifty screenplay, snarky dialogue, big action set pieces with lots of chases and fights, and a can’t-miss cast of Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, Salma Hayek, Antonio Banderas and Morgan Freeman. Richard E. Grant is back in what amounts to a cameo.

“The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard” is a sequel to “The Hitman’s Bodyguard” (2017).

The film opens with Michael Bryce (Ryan Reynolds) on the psychiatrist’s couch. There’s a dream to be analyzed. We see the dream sequence, establishing the movie’s tone, which is hyper-kinetic and cartoonish.

The therapist recommends that Bryce goes on a sabbatical from his career as a bodyguard. Easier said than done. That sets the film’s plot in motion.

Darius Kincaid (Samuel L. Jackson) is the hitman. He has been kidnapped. Sonia Kincaid (Salma Hayek) is the hitman’s wife. She wants Bryce to help free Jackson. Bryce isn’t so sure, but he gets pulled back in.

This despite that Bryce’s license as a hitman is suspended. Yes, we are told, hitmen are licensed. This is one of the film’s conceits that generates a lot of the wink, wink, nudge, nudge humor.

Aristotle Papadopoulos (Antonio Banderas) plays a Greek mafioso type who is hell-bent on shutting down Europe’s communication system.

It’s up to Reynolds, Jackson and Hayek, working with the European police and intelligence agency, Interpol, to prevent this.

Michael Bryce Sr. (Morgan Freeman) plays ... Well, that would be telling too much. No spoilers here.

“The Hitman” is powered by a smart and efficient screenplay by Brandon Murphy (theatrical movie screenplay debut), Phillip Murphy (theatrical movie screenplay debut) and Tom O’Connor (“The Courrier,” 2020; “The Hitman’s Bodyguard”) based on a story and characters created by O’Connor.

Director Patrick Hughes (“The Expendibles 3,” 2014), who directed the first movie, “The Hitman’s Bodyguard,” keeps the action moving, emphasizes dialogue scenes for character development and interaction and shows the splendor of the south-central European locations.

The cinematography by Terry Stacey successfully conveys the big action set pieces as well as the character scenes, augmented by fast-paced editing by Michael J. Duthie and Jack Hutchings.

The soundtrack by composer Atli Örvarsson evokes brass and percussion flourishes that add to the film’s excitement.

Instrumental music, including Claude Debussy’s “Clair De Lune,” and pop songs, such as Lionel Richie’s’ “Hello,” play to ironic effect, which has become de rigueur in action films.

Reynolds is in full self-deprecating mode. Reynolds (“Deadpool” franchise) is a screen actor who I could watch doing practically anything. As Michael Bryce in “Hitman,” Reynolds’ rubbery face, slouchy body language and perpetually perplexed expression is hilarious.

Jackson (Oscar nomination, supporting actor, “Pulp Fiction,” 1995) as Darius Kincaid is the perfect foil for the hyperactive Michael Bryce (Reynolds). Jackson is the count of cool.

Hayek (Oscar nominee, lead actress, “Frida,” 2002) is wonderful as Sonia Kincaid, Darius Kincaid’s overly-emotional wife, who gives as good as she gets and better. The Sonia Kincaid role is expanded from the first film, “The Hitman’s Wife.”

I would have liked to have seen even more of Hayek in the middle and latter part of “The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard,” a movie that’s at its best when Hayek is on screen with Reynolds and Jackson.

Antonio Banderas (Oscar nominee, lead actor, “Dolor y gloria,” 2019) and Morgan Freeman (Oscar recipient, supporting actor, “Million Dollar Baby,” 2004) have memorable moments in supporting roles.

With ““The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard,” it’s all for fun and mayhem with a few life lessons along the way. For example, in one brief scene, Michael Bryce is reading the book, “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne.

“The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard” can be recommended for fans of action films and fans of Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, Salma Hayek, Antonio Banderas and Morgan Freeman.

“The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard,”

MPAA Rated R (Restricted Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. Contains some adult material. Parents are urged to learn more about the film before taking their young children with them.) for strong bloody violence throughout, pervasive language, and some sexual content; Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime; Run time: 1 hr., 40 min.; Distributed by Lionsgate.

Credit Readers Anonymous:

“The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard” was filmed in Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Bulgaria and United Kingdom.

At The Movies:

“The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard” was seen at the Movie Tavern Trexlertown, which is again open daily as are other multiplexes, including AMC and Regal, in the Lehigh Valley.

Movie Box Office,

June 25- 27: “F9: The Fast Saga” roared to No. 1, opening with $70 million, in 4,179 theaters, indicating movie-goers are driving back to the multiplex.

It is the biggest opening since “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” (2019). “F9” was to open Memorial Day weekend 2020. It is the biggest pandemic-era opening, besting ”A Quiet Place Part II,” which opened with $47.5 million on Memorial Day weekend. Approximately, 80 percent of theaters are open domestically.

2. “A Quiet Place Part II” stayed in place, with $6.2 million, in 3,124 theaters; $136.3 million, five weeks. 3. “The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard” dropped from No. 1 to No. 3, with $4.8 million, in 3,361 theaters, and $25.8 million, two weeks. 4. “Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway” dropped one place, $4.8 million, in 3,331 theaters; $28.8 million, three weeks. 5. “Cruella” stayed in place, $3.7 million, in 2,820 theaters; $71.3 million, five weeks. 6. “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It” dropped two places, $2.9 million, in 2,668 theaters; $59.1 million, four weeks. 7. “In the Heights” dropped one place, $2.2 million, in 2,403 theaters; $24.1 million, three weeks. 8. “Spirit Untamed” dropped one place, $1 million, in 1,773 theaters; $15.8 million, four weeks. 9. “12 Mighty Orphans” dropped one place, $591,917, in 1,020 theaters; $2.2 million, three weeks. 10. “Nobody” moved up 12 places, $560,000, in 115 theaters; $26.7 million, 14 weeks.

Movie Box Office information from Box Office Mojo is subject to change.

Unreel,

July 2:

“The Boss Baby: Family Business,”

PG: Tom McGrath directs the voice talents of Alec Baldwin, James Marsden, Amy Sedaris, Ariana Greenblatt, Eva Longoria, Jimmy Kimmel, Lisa Kudrow and Jeff Goldblum in the Animation Comedy. There’s a new Boss Baby in town, er, the playpen.

“The Forever Purge,”

R: Everando Gout directs Ana de la Reguera, Tenoch Huerta, Josh Lucas, Cassidy Freeman, Veronica Falcon and Will Patton in the Action, Horror, Science-Fiction film. The Purge does not stop at daybreak.

“Summer of Soul ( ... Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised),”

PG-13: Questlove directs the feature documentary film about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, with interviews and appearances by Lin-Manual Miranda, Chris Rock, Stevie Wonder and archival performance footage of Sly and the Family Stone, The 5th Dimension, Gladys Night & The Pips, B.B. King and Nina Simone.

“Till Death,”

R: S.K. Dale directs Megan Fox, Lili Rich and Callan Mulvey in the Horror, Thriller. A woman is handcuffed to her dead husband. The killers return.

“Werewolves Within,” R: Josh Ruben directs Sam Richardson, Milana Vayntrub and Sarah Burns in the Comedy, Horror film adapted from the video game in which werewolves attack a town.?“Zola,”

R: Janicza Bravo directs Taylor Paige, Riley Keough and Colman Domingo in the Comedy, Drama. An exotic dancer is on a road trip to Florida.

Movie opening dates from Internet Movie Database is subject to change.

Three Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes