Despite having a noir-ish action title, director Richard Linklater’s “Hit Man” is a romcom. It’s got a slightly-too-slow acceleration, but once it gets rolling, it’s a fun ride.
Philosophy professor Gary Johnson (Glenn Powell), in the romcom "Hit Man." (Barnstorm Productions/Netflix)
Much like the old cliché makeover film where the spinster-y librarian eventually removes her glasses, shakes out some “Who’da-thunk-it?” luxurious locks, and wows the heretofore disinterested, dashing alpha, in “Hit Man” we get a guy who transforms from a bad-haired, bespectacled philosophy professor—into a dashing alpha.
Recent “breakout” actor Glen Powell (he’s, of course, actually a showbiz veteran), best known thus far as “Hang Man” in “Top Gun: Maverick,” and the romcom “Anyone But You,” alongside Sidney Sweeney, has himself a blast playing over a dozen different characters.
Gary Johnson (Glenn Powell) impresses Madison Master (Adria Arjona), in the romcom "Hit Man." (Barnstorm Productions/Netflix)
Real Deal
Based on of a real-life undercover police consultant, the film kicks off with Gary Johnson (Powell) working his side-gig: He’s setting up surveillance equipment for a New Orleans P.D. undercover sting team.
The sting squad’s M.O. is putting the word out that a killer-for-hire is available, then busting the cash-waving idiots who order themselves up a murder by rendezvousing with the assassin-impersonating undercover cop.
(L–R) Jasper (Austin Amelio), Phil (Sanjay Rao), and Claudette (Retta) make up the New Orleans P.D. surveillance van team, in the romcom "Hit Man." (Barnstorm Productions/Netflix)
When the sleazy-but-cunning undercover cop Jasper (Austin Amelio, looking like a clone of nutty 1960s’ rock drummer Ginger Baker of Cream), who normally plays the “assassin” is removed from the line of duty, über-dork Gary is hustled out of the van to try his hand at hitman-impersonation.
A Natural
Of course it turns out Gary’s very good at this. He blows the collective minds of all the agents in the van (as well as himself) with a “Who’da-thunk-it?” commanding and dangerous charisma, backed by dazzling, fast-on-his-feet improv skills.
Gary Johnson (L, Glenn Powell) and Joe (Richard Robichaux), in the romcom "Hit Man." (Barnstorm Productions/Netflix)
Soon, Gary’s developed a stable of alter egos, and like a Laurence Olivier of the surveillance van, he augments his shape-shifting repertoire via wigs, fake noses, contact lenses, fake teeth, shoe lifts, and so on, that allows him to portray characters ranging from hair-gel’d Euro-trash to American Southern good ol’ boys.
Moral Dilemma
The moral monkey-wrench arrives in the form of Madison (Adria Arjona, Jason Momoa’s new girlfriend), a comely young lass who would very much like to see her insanely jealous husband deep-sixed.
Madison Master (Adria Arjona) and Gary Johnson (Glenn Powell), in the romcom "Hit Man." (Barnstorm Productions/Netflix)
Now Gary, normally not very good with the ladies, and definitely never having had the attention of a woman this alluring, is of course an immediate sucker for her innocuous-looking Machiavellian machinations. He’s thinking (and all the men in the audience are thinking with him) that maybe if he can talk some sense into her, she might be available for dating.
This is of course very stupid. But Gary’s hit man persona on display for Madison, is charming, funny, confident, protective, and romantic. And Powell and Arjona’s screen chemistry is scorching. Enough so, that it may get Bill Murray calling up Jason Momoa to rib him about it, in the same way Murray enjoys calling Kelly Lynch’s husband whenever he sees the original “Road House”—(Lynch and Patrick Swayze heated the movie screen up enough to burn it down).
Madison remains on the NOPD’s radar as a person of interest, and so their romance includes having to elude detection by the very suspicious, very sneaky Jasper, who’s hellbent on getting his job back.
All in All
The mood shifts from light comedy to hot romance, and finally to deeply cynical. One can’t really imagine this happy romcom couple wandering over to the dark side, per Gary’s fake-assassin role. Linklater ultimately gets in some of his patented philosophical musings about the meaning of life: in this case, basically—carpe diem and get yourself a good makeover.
Promotional poster for "Hit Man." (Barnstorm Productions/Netflix)
‘Hit Man’
Director: Richard Linklater
Starring: Glenn Powell, Adria Arjona, Austin Amelio, Retta, Sanjay Rao
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 1 hour, 55 minutes
Release Date: May 24, 2024
Rating: 3 1/2 stars out of 5
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Mark Jackson is the chief film critic for The Epoch Times. In addition to the world’s number-one storytelling vehicle—film, he enjoys martial arts, weightlifting, Harley-Davidsons, vision questing, rock-climbing, qigong, oil painting, and human rights activism. Mark earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Williams College, followed by a classical theater training, and has 20 years’ experience as a New York professional actor, working in theater, commercials, and television daytime dramas. He recently narrated the Epoch Times audiobook “How the Specter of Communism is Ruling Our World,” which is available on iTunes and Audible. Mr. Jackson is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic.
