MOVIE REVIEW: THE BODYGUARD (1992)

For anyone of my generation and older, even mentioning the title of this movie summons THAT song to burst into your brain at full volume. The song is a powerhouse, but how is the movie Whitney Houston sang it for? Surprisingly, it took me until I was 40 years old to find out. Everyone has these sorts of movies- you’ve known about them your whole life and it seems like so many people have seen it but for some reason you never have. As it turns out, the song’s ubiquity and power may cause people to be more nostalgic for this film than is merited.

Houston stars as Rachel Marron, a dual-threat singer and actress whose celebrity status has drawn the attention of a disturbed stalker who is trying to kill her. She hires former Secret Service agent Frank Farmer (Kevin Costner) to be her head of security. The two clash mightily at first. Frank’s by-the-book, deathly serious attitude puts a major damper on her lifestyle. Despite the friction, sparks of a different kind arise between the two, further complicating Frank’s assignment as the wannabe assassin grows bolder in their attempts on Rachel’s life.

People loved Whitney and people loved the soundtrack. The story, however, feels a little thin. I have to wonder if that’s because of the time constraints. The relationship dynamic and the ground that has to get covered may be too much for two hours and nine minutes to do it justice. While two hours may not feel like a short time, storylines are forced to develop quickly, leaving some developments to spring up simply and conveniently. As a result, The Bodyguard may feel a little like a soap opera to some viewers.

Kevin Costner made a career out of playing withdrawn and cagey characters. He may bring too much of that repertoire into Frank Farmer. It could be that there wasn’t enough natural chemistry between Costner and Houston, but I think Costner oversells the serious-minded protector, which makes it harder for the romance of the movie to feel right. Farmer should be serious and hard to read, but Costner doesn’t leave enough of an opening for you to believe he can plunge this deep into romantic feelings.

Whitney Houston manages better in her debut than most singers who try their hand at acting. It helps that she can bring her own experience as a singer and mega-celebrity to the role of Rachel. There are a few rough edges here and there, but I felt it was a pretty steady acting debut for her. Between her performance and the tense cat-and-mouse game with her assailant, The Bodyguard entertains enough to be a satisfactory distraction that you wouldn’t mind taking in again, at least in part.

FINAL RATING: 3.25 out of 5