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It takes about five minutes into the opening scene for one to lose hope that The Bounty Hunter is going to be more than a mediocre romantic comedy.  With a mismatch of styles and very little chemistry between the lead actors, it is fortunate that the film can chase down the description of “forgettable”.

Milo Boyd (Gerard Butler) is a down on his luck former police officer who is making ends meet as a bounty hunter.  His luck turns though when he gets a job to chase down his ex wife Nicole (Jennifer Aniston) who has jumped bail to pursue a story.  Everything becomes more complex though when her investigation threatens some dangerous people and they are quickly on the run from crooked cops, loan sharks, and an inept co-worker/stalker.

The plot is as absurd as it sounds.  The biggest issue is that it seems like there are two different films competing for your attention.  There is a marginally plausible yet stale thread about stolen police evidence and a reporter that will do anything to get her story, and then you have the inclusion incompetent loan collectors and a coworker that thinks he is dating Nicole.  These story threads require suspension of belief at levels reserved for most science fiction films.  Even the development of the main story – why Milo is tracking down Nicole – takes so long to develop that the director begins the with a flash forward to give a hint of where it will be going.  The slow pacing does pick up later in the film but then rushes what could have been the more interesting parts of the film.
Neither Aniston nor Butler are going to gain any positive buzz from this film.  There is very little chemistry between them on screen and individually neither put in a stellar performance.  It is hard to distinguish Nicole from a number of Ms. Aniston’s other roles which makes the character familiar, but dry.  Gerard Butler though takes Milo in the opposite direction.  Watching Milo try to run down criminals with the gait of a effeminate drum major makes it hard to believe he is playing a former cop, and incredulous that he was the over buffed King Leonidas in 300 just four years ago.  He is far more interesting than Nicole though when Mr. Butler is not over acting the part.  The audience never finds out why the two divorced other than they made each other crazy which was also the reason they fell in love.  They also seem to have to do very little in order to get each other to fall back in and out of and in love again.  For a romantic comedy though, romance seems to be in short supply.

There is marginally more comedy though in the slap-stick variety with a handful of supporting characters that keeps the audience entertained in their short time on screen.  Stewart (Jason Sudeikus) is utterly ridiculous as Nicole’s coworker that takes an ill-advised make-out session as the beginning of a relationship.  By following her and trying to be her hero in borderline stalker fashion, he single handedly keeps the audience awake during the first half of the film.  In fact, when it comes to supporting cast, the more unbelievable the character, the more welcome that character seems to be.  Anyone trying to play an realistic role comes off as stiff and unremarkable.

Despite plot, character and pacing issues, The Bounty Hunter is not a total disaster.  There are some moments of interest, but it is hard to figure out what groups to recommend the film to.  It is a completely formulaic and forgettable romantic comedy and definitely not worth dropping $20 on it if you are taking a date.  The best that can be said about it is that if you do not have to pay for it, you may get your time’s worth.

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