★½☆☆☆
It is difficult to treat a film seriously when it doesn’t take itself seriously. Genre fusions and other experimental approaches have been in place for quite a while. Never has there been one that results in a total letdown when a thick layer of absurdity is smeared all about the latest film by Korean filmmaker Shin Terra.
Bounty Hunters withholds so much promise in the form of a globe-trotting premise that sends a team of (good-looking) bounty hunters in search of the true culprits behind the explosive acts of terrorism in Singapore, Tokyo and Incheon. It is soon revealed that bounty hunters (with advertisement-friendly skin and hair) who travel about donning high fashion outfits and wielding advanced technological gadgets cannot possibly be seasoned practitioners of the trade.
The cast ensemble of Korean star Lee Min-ho, Chinese actress Tiffany Tang, Hong Kong actor Wallace Chung, model-actress Karena Ng and martial arts actor Louis Fan simply baffles. If not for the sole intension of leveraging on teenage pop idol interest, the casting of this film could use some professional help.
Devising a number of car chases, shootouts and close combat sequences, the action opts for goofiness treatment to try and make everything appear funny to the audience. Possibly hoping to achieve action superstar Jackie Chan’s signature where he combined stunts, action and comedy together, Bounty Hunters might not have realised that it lacks a functional screenplay.
Coining a series of plot devices together where character and story development are non-existent, it would have helped if the scripted humour was indeed entertaining. More like a farce that just goes on and on with blatant silliness, there was never a moment in the film where the audience could actually focus and take seriously.
“At least one of our comrades has to be handsome.”
This was the response by Tang’s character to the question towards her recruitment of two ex-Interpol employees who were discharged from service. What a truthful confession – that also reflects the filmmakers’ sentiments behind the casting.
Genre insertion of romantic chemistry between the male and female lead characters are mostly in the form of clichés realised in some of the most ridiculous scenarios. An attempt to escape captivity from the confined spaces of a sedan’s boot compartment becomes an instrument of intimacy for Tang and Lee. A red pill of poison and a blue pill of antidote, which became a scripted convenience for Tang and Lee to engage each other lips-to-lips.
There was however some notable performance by the film’s lead antagonist Tommy (Jeremy Jones Xu) whose psychotic lunacy helped to prove a desired layer of complexity towards his character. A simple backstory where he hated his father and his obsession towards his career as a hotelier provided the basis behind his child-like maniacal demeanour.
There is no reward for catching Bounty Hunters.
Unless a fan of any of the above listed Asian idols, it is advised to best steer clear from this Hong Kong-South Korean-Chinese production. There is no reward for catching Bounty Hunters.
Also published on InCinemas.sg
cineJay 