For weeks, females across America have waited impatiently for the premier of “The Bounty Hunter” starring the Scottish heartthrob Gerard Butler and Jennifer Aniston. Their characters, Milo and Nicole, are a formerly married couple with plenty of issues. Their number one problem? He, as a bounty hunter, must collect her and deliver her to the nearest prison for skipping bail over a fender bender.
I would have suggested marriage counseling. I would also suggest waiting to see this movie until it hits two-dollar Tuesdays.
Writer Sarah Thorpe sure came up with a creative and original story, but the publicity department needs to understand that revealing all of its funniest jokes in the previews consequently makes the rest of the movie a let-down. Not to devalue those jokes — they were hysterical — but anyone who watched the preview expected them.
Some of the subplots seemed a bit outlandish and their connection to the major story line remained uncertain or outlandish throughout, and was never fully or sensibly resolved.
Common sense was not used much either. A woman as intelligent as Nicole’s character should have had enough intuition to take off her five-inch stilettos when sneaking through an abandoned warehouse. The people in the next theatre over probably could have heard them, never mind the villain (and how exactly was he connected again …?).
Certain scenes dragged on. Any movie, be it a rom-com, thriller, or tearjerker, should not leave the audience bored at any point in time. Whenever a movie feels like it is plodding through with absolutely nothing conducive to the plot, it slides down a notch in my book.
Another fail from this movie: two Ke$ha songs. I mean please, there are so many quality sound tracks from which to choose. One song I could have handled, but two?
I don’t mean to come across as whiny. The film does have some good qualities. Aniston and Butler have a great dynamic; it is very obvious that they “hate” each other after the divorce, with clear leftover emotions. Both talented comedic actors, they portray convincing characters, which provides the comedy. Her workaholic and neat-freak nature is classically pitted against his. He is “a bit rough around the edges,” which works well against her perfection. Without Gerard, it would have been a total flop.
The final verdict: it provides an entertaining two hours. But if you haven’t seen the previews, don’t. You’ll like it better, I promise.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
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