The Bounty Hunter Movie Reviews

Take a burly ex-cop (Butler) who’s reduced to pursuing felons for a reward. Throw in his bail-jumping ex-wife (Aniston) and then let him try and bring her in to jail. That’s the basic premise of this ex-asperating battle of the sexes. The Bounty Hunter isn’t smart enough either as marital comedy or as action thriller to sustain our interest. It’s all been done before and to more entertaining effect in such films as The War of the Roses (1989) and Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005).

At the beginning of The Bounty Hunter, Nicole and Milo — she’s a reporter for The Daily News, played by Jennifer Aniston; he’s a former New York City police officer, played by Gerard Butler, who now plies the unglamorous trade that gives the movie its name — are divorced. It is obvious enough that this condition will reverse itself by the end, but it would have been better for everybody concerned, the audience most of all

There is zero chemistry between the two leads (even though the tabloids would have us believe that they were involved in a rollicking affair off screen) and nothing about the plot even suggests that much thought went into it. The fact that these two used to be married doesn't really add any tension to the actual storytelling. Their professions seem to have been tacked on as an afterthought just so that the plot contrivances that pepper this insipid tale can have some reason for existing.

The Bounty Hunter isn't simply a bad film, it's a lazy film. So lazy in fact that it doesn't bother with a script, and makes no effort to inspire any chemistry between its leads. There were rumors Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler were dating while shooting this film, and if that's true, then you have to give it to them - they've got to be the best actors ever. Because you don't see a hint of chemistry between them on screen. Just no sparks at all.

There is a minor character in the Bounty Hunter called Stewart (Jason Sudeikis). He plays the buffoon who believes that he has a chance with Nicole (Jennifer Aniston) because she kissed him once at an office party. He is kidnapped, tortured, his leg is broken and a horse tranquiliser is administered to him. You might laugh at him, but in reality, he, with all his predicaments might just be representing you, the audience.