Directed by: Martin Campbell
Starring: Maggie Q, Michael Keaton, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Patrick, Patrick Malahide
The Protege is a competent action film which never fully crosses over into something special. It makes the effort, with Maggie Q as a solid center and Michael Keaton as what could best be described as her frenemy. Maggie Q plays Anna, an assassin raised by another assassin named Moody (Jackson), who rescued her from a hellish existence in Vietnam after her family was brutally slain. Moody and Anna are a makeshift father and daughter who work together carrying out hits on elusive, powerful targets.
Anna, however, owns a rare bookstore and wishes to leave the assassin business behind for good. One night, Moody is found dead in his bathtub from gunshot wounds, and Anna has to put the bookstore on hold while she seeks revenge. The whole Moody business ends with a twist which isn't believable despite a character's attempts to explain it. Keaton, as a fixer named Rembrandt who works for a shadowy corporate type, kind of likes Anna and would like to get to know her better...if you know what I mean. This maybe prevents him from putting a bullet in her head. That, and Anna's superior fighting skills.
It is interesting to see Keaton playing a fixer with somewhat of a heart under the circumstances. When he and Anna fight, there is a sly smile from both which suggests they might get to the rumpy-pumpy soon. He says, "Either kill me or bang me," or words to that effect. Maggie Q and Keaton have chemistry and make things more compelling than you would expect. It's almost a pity that their relationship seemingly ends with a meh payoff.
The Protege, directed by the reliable action director Martin Campbell (Casino Royale, Goldeneye), is polished and slick, but the end result is just an exercise in being an okay film which isn't the worst way to spend two hours of your time.
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