We’re so accustomed to Milla Jovovich kicking zombie ass in Resident Evil or in other fantasy action flicks like the recent World Breaker, that it takes a moment to recognize her in Protector, a more grounded thriller dealing with the hot button topic of human trafficking. Directed by Adrian Grunberg of Rambo: Last Blood notoriety, the film is essentially Taken from a mother’s perspective, and I don’t say that to detract from it. One of its strengths is showing how deep the bond goes between a mother and her daughter, even when they don’t always see eye-to-eye. There are unique dangers out there in the world for women, and Jovovich captures a mother’s desire to shield her daughter from them, and failing that, to bring her daughter to safety.
That Jovovich’s character, Nikki, is also an ex-Special Forces badass, is a key component to Protector. Nikki is rarely home to guide her daughter, Chloe (Isabel Myers), through the most important moments of her young life. There’s a battle that Nikki is fighting constantly in the Middle East, but there’s also a silent war being fought back home that she is missing. When Nikki finally gives that up to raise her daughter, she finds that her absence has driven a wedge between them. However, when Chloe is drugged and kidnapped by a human trafficking ring, Nikki will stop at nothing to get her back.
Bong-Seob Mun’s screenplay picks up in the middle of Nikki’s quest for vengeance, as she faces off against a criminal syndicate and avoids the pursuit of the law. This was a terrific role for Jovovich, who we all recognize as one of the most iconic action stars in the world. She does the majority of her own stunts in what she’s described as one of her toughest shoots. Nikki gets bruised, dragged around by a car, tortured, and more, but she moves forward with a Charles Bronson-like determination and lethality.
However, it’s the smaller moments in which Jovovich impresses most, largely because we don’t get to see her play a role like this too often. Nikki’s regret over the choices she’s made, the broken relationship she has with Chloe, color her every decision. Jovovich, a mother herself, captures the whirlwind of emotions that come with every parent’s worst nightmare come to life.
Grunberg’s direction remains competent if unspectacular, specializing in the brutality of the violence rather than stylishly choreographing it. A subplot involving a rigorous police chief (DB Sweeney) and Nikki’s respected former commander (Matthew Modine) doesn’t make the best use of either veteran actor. Nor does a final act twist live up to the film’s realistic tone, coming across like a cheap gimmick. Protector is a solid enough action drama, with Jovovich delivering on the emotional payoffs, that it’s worth checking out for her fans and of the genre.
Protector opens in theaters on March 6th from Magenta Light Studios.
