Teacher’s Pet

The Protégé
Stars: Maggie Q, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Keaton, Robert Patrick, Patrick Malahide and Caroline Loncq
Director: Martin Campbell
Scriptwriter: Richard Wenk
Composer: Rupert Parkes
Cinematography: David Tattersall
Millennium Media/Lionsgate
Rating: R for violence, language and children in danger
Running Length: 109 Minutes 

Maggie Q fans, you don’t have to worry about what your star has been up to, her latest film, “The Protégé” is now in theaters.  Maggie Q (Margaret Denise Quigley) stars with Samuel L. Jackson and Michael Keaton in this film about training a young woman to be an assassin and the underlying reasons. Maggie Q is known for doing her own stunts and we remember her from a “Mission Impossible” film with Tom Cruise.  Michael Keaton , known for his sly wit is part of this trio of Maggie Q, Jackson and Keaton, and why they come together. 

The story revolves around the relationship between Anna (Maggie Q) and her early years living in Vietnam with her family. Enter the war and Anna is rescued by Moody (Samuel L. Jackson) who becomes her guardian and begins to train her to be, as he is, an assassin. When not doing this job Anna works in a book store. As the story continues, there is a prominent death, and revenge is sought, with escapes and action sequences. It wouldn’t be a Maggie Q film without them. The life of an assassin means travel. Gradually, we see there is an underlying plot here and just who is out to get who?  A touch of humor, too, as when Anna, in a spectacular red dress, meets Rembrandt (Michael Keaton) in a restaurant. Their dialogue sits on the top of possible action like whipped cream on a strawberry shake.  The plot meanders, but the action is what the audience is waiting for and it comes full force. 

As for acting, Maggie Q does well in her role as a young woman in training and then a warrior on the prowl. Samuel L. Jackson steals his scenes.   Michael Keaton isn’t there nearly enough with his dry wit and the rest of the cast is well placed.  Be aware of the violence and of a child in danger.  Also, watch the character of Anna change as her hair styles change, from a younger woman to the assassin. 

There is fight choreography to watch in this film and the sequences are intricate as in a ballet.

The plot is there, somewhere, and one could imagine in Jackie Chan’s earlier acting days as doing this film as a young boy being rescued from war.  All in all, the action is the priority here and fans will appreciate the three leads. 

Copyright 2021 Marie Asner