2.5 out 5 stars
In film and in life, there is nothing like the role of a mentor. Someone who invests in the well-being of another person to help them along in the journey on earth. Samuel L. Jackson takes on this moniker as Moody Dutton when he discovers a young girl named Anna after her family’s massacre. As the two escape from Vietnam, their bond forms into a deadly partnership that serves the highest bidder in the world of assassins.
As an adult, the protege has grown into a trained killer who hunts the world’s worst criminals under cover of a rare bookshop owner. Anna (Maggie Q) works alongside Moody to honour the contracts sent over for these evil individuals. Until her mentor becomes sick and things look like they may be coming to an end for this lethal pair. As they look to the future of their unlikely alliance, some of their former targets come searching for them and want to see them dead.
This reality becomes evident after Anna meets Michael Rembrandt (Michael Keaton) at her shop. He turns out to be more than a collector of rare books. Eventually, he turns into a formidable opponent in a violent game of cat and mouse. His employer wants to see the end of Moody and his protege, but becomes intrigued and attracted to Anna. Mainly because she holds the secrets about the son of one of Moody’s former targets. All of which leads her back to where her life as an assassin began in Vietnam.
From director Martin Campbell, who introduced the world to Daniel Craig as James Bond in Casino Royale, then made the now infamous Green Lantern. As the director, this may cause some to wonder what type of film The Protege may become. The answer would be that this story falls somewhere in between his former works. Yet, it does reside dangerously close to the Ryan Reynolds debacle instead of the Bond classic. Despite relying heavily on the charisma of Jackson and Keaton to pull things through, the film sits squarely on the shoulders of Maggie Q. An actress who proves to be an effective action star, but struggles to measure up to her legendary supporting co-stars.
Within the modern tradition of today’s action thrillers, Campbell does not hold back on the blood and gore. Every death is depicted with horrific detail while the protagonist manages to survive a hail of bullets the majority of the time. This aspect of the film may make many viewers look away, this is not the most confronting element of the film. That honour has to go to the casting of Keaton as a romantic lead to Maggie Q’s statuesque character. Granted, he does have the chutzpah to go toe-to-toe with her in the verbal interchanges of the screenplay. Still, the most ghastly scene has to be when the two get romantically involved. (Hard to get that one out of your head. You might want to look away at that moment.)
The Protege will entertain and set things in motion for a potential sequel even with this casting misstep. Some moments could be polished off as possible gold amongst the blood, gore, and unnecessary sexual tension. Just work on the casting a bit next time.
REEL DIALOGUE: What is the value of a good mentor?
Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another - Proverbs 27:17
At the heart of The Protege is an example of an assassin's mentorship. Moody saves Anna’s life and brings her under his less than ethical wing and directs her path for nefarious development. Even though their relationship borders on a father/daughter aspect, it does lead to some of the most endearing elements of the film.
And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also - 2 Timothy 2:2
Mentorship and training are seen throughout the Bible. Jesus had his disciples, but a fascinating study can be found in the coaching relationship between Paul and Timothy. The apostle wrote some of the most personal letters to his trainee. These men set a precedence for the value of an older individual investing in the life of someone younger. Unlike the relationship between Moody and Anna, the allegiance between Paul and Timothy benefits trainees today. It leads to the very thing that genuinely helps mankind.
Letters that show the mentoring role of Paul to Timothy: 1 & 2 Timothy
