Why 'The Bounty Hunter' Still Divides Viewers Years Later
Gerard Butler and Jennifer Aniston’s 2010 film struggled with chemistry and reviews, yet found box office success. Now, it’s making a surprise return to streaming charts.
Pairing Gerard Butler, known for his tough-guy roles, with Jennifer Aniston, a staple of romantic comedies, seemed a surefire recipe for a hit back in 2010. The result, however, was a film that never quite found its footing, despite the pedigree of director Andy Tennant, who previously helmed 'Hitch' and 'Sweet Home Alabama'. Sixteen years on, the film is enjoying a curious resurgence, having crept into the Top 10 on HBO Max.
Unlikely Partners, Unconvincing Chemistry
In 'The Bounty Hunter', Butler takes on the role of a down-on-his-luck ex-cop turned bounty hunter, tasked with tracking down his bail-skipping ex-wife, played by Aniston. The premise, reminiscent of 'Fool’s Gold' from a couple of years earlier, promised a blend of action and romance. Yet, the central pairing failed to ignite. Critics and audiences alike noted the lack of spark between the leads, a shortcoming that proved difficult to overlook.
Despite the lukewarm reception, the film faced little in the way of competition upon release. Its main rival, 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid', targeted a different crowd entirely. This lack of direct competition may have helped the film turn a $40 million budget into a global box office haul of $136 million, defying the critical drubbing it received.
Critical Reception and Audience Response
The official synopsis sets the scene:
"Milo Boyd (Gerard Butler), a down-on-his-luck bounty hunter, thinks he's seeing an upswing in fortune when he gets a call to bring in his bail-jumping ex-wife, a reporter named Nicole (Jennifer Aniston). Milo considers the job an easy payday, but Nicole quickly escapes to chase a lead on a murder case. The former spouses play an escalating game of one-upmanship, until they suddenly find themselves on the run for their lives."
On the review aggregator Tomatometer, the film scraped a meagre 13%, with audience scores only slightly more forgiving at 51%. Many reviewers simply could not get past what they described as "zero chemistry" between Butler and Aniston. Others dismissed it as
"an actionized rom-com that isn't action packed, contains no believable romance, and isn't particularly funny."
Viewers were marginally kinder, but the consensus was hardly glowing. For die-hard fans of either star, there might be something to enjoy, but it’s the sort of film best left on in the background while you get on with something else. Words like "poor," "amateurish," and "inferior to so many similar movies" cropped up time and again.
Streaming Revival and Lasting Appeal
Both leads have since moved on to more successful projects. Butler, in particular, has carved out a niche in action thrillers, with the '...Has Fallen' series and the recent 'Greenland 2' under his belt. Yet, the fact that 'The Bounty Hunter' is finding a new audience on streaming platforms suggests there’s still a place for these middling, easy-watching films. Sometimes, all you want is a bit of background noise with familiar faces, and on that front, this film delivers—if only just.