A One Mann’s Movies review of “Hit Man” (2024).
I’m late to the game on “Hit Man” (available on Netflix). I saw the director Richard Linklater talking about this film at a “Mark Kermode in 3D” event in London on its release…. and that was several weeks ago! It is a fun romp in places, but the first half is far better than the second.
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
Based, strangely enough, on a true story, Gary Johnson (Glen Powell) is a mild-mannered professor working in a New Orleans college. But he has as a side-gig supporting the work of the NA PD. When one day, by necessity, he has to play the part of a deadly assassin he finds himself in a bizarre alternative lifestyle that draws him into the orbit of the abused wife Madison Figueroa Masters (Adria Arjona).
Certification:
UK: 15; US: R. (From the BBFC web site: “Strong language, sex, violence”.)
Talent:
Starring: Glen Powell, Adria Arjona, Austin Amelio, Retta, Sanjay Rao, Molly Bernard, Evan Holtzman, Gralen Bryant Banks.
Directed by: Richard Linklater.
Written by: Richard Linklater & Glen Powell. (Based on a Texas Monthly magazine article by Skip Hollandsworth).
Running Time: 1h 55m.
“Hit Man” Summary:
Positives:
- The fact that this is based on a real guy is bonkers.
- Glen Powell extends his brand as a leading man.
- Adria Arjona is utterly gorgeous and makes you wonder “wow, where has she come from?”
- The way in which Powell adopts multiple, sometimes random, disguises is really fun.
Negatives:
- The first half of the film is far better than the second.
- I really didn’t buy a specific twist in the final half of the film.
- Arjona rather overdoes the “seduction eyes” at some points.
Review of “Hit Man”:
A nutty story
There are times when I write the “Plot Summary” section where I think “come on… this is stretching believability somewhat”. But this film is actually based on the life of one Gary Johnson who really was a college professor who did contract work for the New Orleans Police Department as a ‘pretend’ hit man. He even, in real life, refused to progress a case with an abused wife and did end up in a romantic relationship with her. So, yes the story is nutty but it is, unbelievably, true to a large extent.
A breakout role for Adria Arjona.
Puerto Rican beauty Adria Arjona has been doing movies since 2015 but she didn’t make an impression on me in “Morbius” (perhaps I was just distracted by the terrible film!) and I never saw her other major films since then (2022’s “Father of the Bride” remake and 2018’s “Pacific Rim: Uprising”). So, for me, this was her ‘breakout film’ in my conciousness. (Since this, she’s also appeared in “Blink Twice” with a much meatier role, where she was terrific!).
And she DOES definitely make an impression in “Hit Man”…. even on the poster! She is most definitely the eye-candy in the film but, to a degree, she really does overdo it at times. There are scenes during an eventful night out with Gary where she started to remind me of those wonderful scenes in “Puss in Boots“… where Puss wants to win someone over. You know, this one…
There’s ‘drowning in a woman’s eyes’ and ‘water-boarding’… and it’s a fine line that Arjona over-steps.
Fletch-reborn
Not so much with the pretty dodgy recent remake – Confess, Fletch – starring Jon Hamm, but the original “Fletch” films in the 80’s starring Chevy Chase had Fletch adopting all sorts of disguises to investigate crimes. This film reminded me strongly of that with Glenn Powell, very convincingly I might add, adopting a wide range of different roles. Some of them (notably for me a male ‘Tilda Swinton’ sort of character) were really funny.
It came off the rails for me in the final reel.
So, this was buzzing along very pleasantly for me. It had humour, intrigue, romance and a sense of fun. But – and no spoilers here – it rather lost its way in the final stretch. There is a murder than happens which really didn’t seem in character for those doing the murdering. It really didn’t feel right at all and both myself and the illustrious Mrs Movie Man felt it soured the tone of the whole film.
Summary Thoughts on “Hit Man”
A game of two halves. The movie had its moments, but the final product never keeps up the momentum of its first half.
Where to Watch it (Powered by Justwatch)
Trailer for “Hit Man”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g4cJ4NE8HA .
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