The Protégé [2021]

The Protégé is clearly what happens when John Wick meets The Equalizer, in a clever way.

Watching the trailer didn’t get me excited for The Protégé. As a result, I didn’t really book tickets to see it. However, when you have a 5h+ flight, you need entertainment. And to my surprise, it was good!

As most action movies in the last 2 decades, there’s nothing groundbreaking when it comes to the plot. A contract killer (Samuel L. Jackson) rescues a child named Anna (Maggie Q) and trains her to become the world’s most skilled contract killer. However, when Moody (Samuel L. Jackson) is brutally killed, she vows revenge for the man who taught her everything she knows. And that puts her on a direct path Michael Keaton‘s character.

In general, The Protégé was a good watch while on the plane. I wouldn’t have paid to see it. However, I wouldn’t dismiss a sequel. That being said, I hope that Maggie Q will get to shine in the sequel because Jackson and Keaton overshadowed her here even if they’re not the main characters.

This good looking, blood-soaked genre flick is stacked with a solid script, a talented and appealing cast (mostly), and complex fight sequences that are staged in the most unhurried and satisfying way. Yes, it’s not the best action movie of 2021, but it’s in the top 5 definitely.

Should you watch it?

John Wick meets The Equalizer meets Mr. and Mrs. Smith. It’s an easy and entertaining watch for when you want to turn your brain off. Lots of action scenes, explosions, and chemistry especially between its stars Maggie Q and Michael Keaton.

Where can I watch it?

The Protégé is now streaming on Netflix.