Reviewed by Victor Rebikoff.
Director: Mick Jackson, Warner Bros, MA, 129 Minutes.
Without any doubt ‘L.A. Story’ filmmaker Mick Jackson has fashioned one of the most enjoyable romantic dramas of the 1990s with his casting of the renowned pop singer Whitney Houston together with celebrated actor and director Kevin Costner.
Because of threats received from a stalker, superstar singer Rachel Marron (Whitney Houston) agrees with her manager Sy Spector (Gary Kemp – ‘The Krays’) to have a professional bodyguard, Frank Farmer (Costner – ‘Wyatt Earp’), hired to protect her.
Sy then wastes no time in having security tightened around her plush surroundings and taking charge of her personal wellbeing.
Farmer’s immediate actions ruffle feathers of both the singer and members of her entourage before Rachel finds herself being romantically attracted to the former secret service agent, who’s still perturbed by his earlier failure to prevent President Reagan’s assassination attempt.
The tension really begins to rise once Rachel is told of an acting accolade she is to receive at a special awards ceremony.
This forces Farmer to spring into action, as he knows full-well that it will provide the anonymous stalker with the perfect opportunity to be present to carry out any threats.
Farmer takes all the necessary precautions to ensure that Rachel is protected even by putting himself in harm’s way.
It is to Jackson’s credit that he was able to adapt Lawrence Kasdan’s appealing script of ‘The Bodyguard’ to the big screen and have it transformed into a memorable movie due to an engaging storyline and a great cast.
Moreover, apart from the inclusion of such a superb accompanying soundtrack, it also includes that unforgettable song “I Will Always Love You” sung by the superstar, the late Whitney Houston.
In addition to this highpoint are the powerful performances by Houston (in her first feature film) and the charming Costner, in particular the personal chemistry exhibited between them.
As an emotional and exhilarating production symbolic of a time capsule showing one of the world’s greatest performers ‘The Bodyguard’ remains an iconic movie of the ‘90s.
Vic’s Verdict: 4 Stars
The Bodyguard is to be televised on 7 FLIX at 8.30pm on Friday 23 July.
