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Cast:
Petchtai
Wongkamlao
Pumwaree
Yodkamol
Piphat
Apiraktanakorn
Tony
Jaa (cameo)
Action:
Panna
Ritikrai
Chaiyaporn
Junmoontree
Writer:
Petchtai
Wongkamlao
Thanpat
Taweesuk
Producer:
Prachya
Pinkaew
Sukanya
Wongstapat
Director:
Petchtai
Wongkamlao
Score:
 
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THE
BODYGUARD
AKA:
Dangerous Hero
Year:
2004 Reviewer: Rob
Daniel
Following
'Ong
Bak' and 'Born
to Fight', Sahamongkol Films and Baa-Ram-Ewe productions
continue Thailand's increasing domination of action cinema
with 'The Bodyguard'.
Comedian
Petchtai Wongkamlao, the sidekick from 'Ong Bak', takes the
reins as actor, writer and director in this fast and furious
comedy actioner, where the firepower is fierce and the farce
frenetic.
Bodyguard
Wongkom (Wongkamlao) fails to prevent the assassination of a
business tycoon, and suffers the wrath of the businessman’s
son Chaichoi (Apiraktanakorn).
When an attempt is made on Chaichoi’s life, in order
to seize control of the family corporation, the callow youth
seeks refuge in a slum village.
Here he discovers the true meaning of community and
assists in the regeneration of a local school, while
attempting to court a tomboy paramedic (Ong Bak’s Yodkamol).
Finally, the criminal gang catch up with him, as does
Wongkom, still swearing to protect his new charge.
Like
much Asian cinema, 'The Bodyguard' is a wild mixture of
violence, sentiment, heavy-handed humour and first-rate
action. At its
core is the same sense of national pride and idealism seen in
'Ong Bak' and 'Born to Fight', going those films one better by
climaxing with the underclass and upper class uniting for an
improbable wedding.
But,
whereas Sahamongkol Films' two crown jewels of action cinema
wear their authentic stunt work as badges of honour, 'The
Bodyguard' is more
indebted to Hong Kong cinema, with liberal use of wirework,
John Woo style gunplay and a blatant nod to 'Once
Upon A Time In China'
during the final fight, complete with Under the General's
Orders accompaniment.
The film's closest cousin is Wong Jing and Jackie
Chan's 'City
Hunter',
with humour boiled down to fat men in Speedos and foul-mouthed
harpies, wild shifts in tone and self-reflexive in-jokes to
previous movies and real-life actors.
As a nod to the film that started it all, Tony Jaa pops
up for a one-scene cameo, throwing impressive shapes as
he inevitably kicks goon butt.
Wongkamlao
is a competent director and is assisted by the
soon-to-be-legendary Panna Ritikrai as martial arts
choreographer and Chaiyaporn Junmoontree on stunt duty, with
his visuals given a professional sheen by 'Nang
Nak' and
'Tears Of The Black Tiger'
DP Nattawut
Kiitikhun. But,
the fact that the film ends with a news reporter recapping the
simple plot reveals the director's lack of faith in his
storytelling abilities.
While
not matching the ambitions of Ong Bak or Born to Fight in no
strings attached mayhem, 'The Bodyguard' is continued proof
that Thailand's popular cinema has a secure future.
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