Review: The Bounty Hunter (12A)***

Andy Tennant, the director of Sweet Home Alabama and Hitch, offers much more than a romantic comedy with this action chase caper starring Gerard Butler as New York bounty hunter Milo Boyd, who is given the task of bringing in his bail-jumping ex-wife, reporter Nicole Hurley (Jennifer Aniston).
By The Newsroom
Published 19th Mar 2010, 10:49 BST
Updated 14th Apr 2010, 13:28 BST

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While the tender moments of reminiscence that crop up between the bickering pair are predictable, there are plenty of surprises from the off, as Nicole jumps bail to chase an exclusive story.

Milo is hot on her clacking high-heels, and both manage to pick up a string of motley characters along the way.

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The car chases and gun slinging through the sordid underbelly of Atlantic City give this film a suspense twist that is reminiscent of The Hangover, to balance out the cheesy moments where Butler and Aniston pause for breath and end up gazing into one another's eyes.

It is inevitable the pair fall into each other's arms, but there are plenty of thrills, as well as an excellent supporting cast.

There are glittering appearances from Mamma Mia!'s Christine Baranski, as Nicole's cougar of a mother, and Curb Your Enthusiasm's Jeff Garlin as Sid, Milo's boss, while Saturday Night Live's Jason Sudeikis desperately tries to steal Nicole's heart and the spotlight as hapless hack Stewart, keen to share Aniston's byline, and her bed.

Butler's character is a booze-loving lump of an ex-cop and he doesn't offer too much more in his performance, but Aniston and her glossy caramel locks make up for everything.

Jen's hair remains flawless throughout three days on the run, but her performance as a feisty, but funny leading lady is similarly lustrous.

Related topics:Jennifer AnistonNew York