Richard Linklater is back with what may be his most entertaining movie. He’s consistently produced fantastic works in many different genres for decades. He co-writes and directs Hit Man, a romantic crime comedy of sorts. Glen Powell co-writes and stars in the film as Gary Johnson, a college professor who works part time with the New Orleans Police Department. He works undercover posing as a hitman so that his “clients” who try to hire him end up getting arrested. But when a woman named Maddy Masters (Adria Arjona) hires him to kill her husband, things become quite interesting.
Hit Man works so well on every level. It’s genuinely a riot from start to finish. There isn’t a dull moment in this film. It’s exceedingly rewatchable, especially with large groups of people. Although this movie will land on Netflix’s streaming platform soon, it is playing in a few theaters and I’d recommend seeing it in one. This movie is an absolute blast and there are so many things the film has going for it. For one, the premise feels very fresh. Although the movie hits many familiar beats surrounding love stories harmed by a fake identity, the particular approach and style this movie has makes it feel unique.
The reason to see this movie is Glen Powell. He has been working his way to stardom for many years, having had small roles in Spy Kids 3D and The Dark Knight Rises. And ever since I (and others) saw him on the big screen in Top Gun: Maverick, we knew that was a movie star in the making. He followed that up in 2023 with the theatrical box office hit Anyone But You. Although that movie was very successful and is a shining example of a rare theatrical rom-com, Hit Man is everything that I wanted that movie to be in terms of quality. This film takes the conventions of a romantic comedy and puts such a fun spin on it, while Anyone But You stuck to the formula too much.
When Gary meets Maddy, he’s undercover, playing a hitman. There’s a wonderful idea here because in real life, Gary is a bit of a boring nerd. But when he’s playing this hitman persona for Maddy, he’s attractive, confident, and many things that he usually isn’t. That puts an interesting spin on their romance because she has no idea who he really is. As they spend more time together, we get a sense of their chemistry. And while Powell was leaning into the affair rumors with Sydney Sweeney to help promote his previous rom-com, the chemistry is even better in this movie. It’s funny, lovely, and very sexy. Arjona enchants the screen unlike any other as Maddy, and although she’s had roles in films like Triple Frontier and Morbius, this was my first time taking full note of her ability.
It’s safe to say that with the upcoming Twisters, Monsanto, Edgar Wright’s Running Man reboot, and JJ Abrams’s next movie, Powell has become Hollywood’s new hot ticket. He’s booked and busy as ever, and it’s wonderful to see him reteam with Linklater. The actor/director duo had previously worked together on Everybody Wants Some!! and Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood. They’ve collaborated on a screenplay built for Powell’s talents. The fun thing about Gary is the fact that he plays various hitmen and he plays them all as very different characters. He has to play a redheaded sociopath, he needs to do a Russian accent, and for one of them, he does a spot-on impression of Patrick Bateman from American Psycho. Not only are all these hitmen characters hilarious, but they quickly show you Powell’s range and comic ability.
But above all else, Hit Man is a rom-com. This movie is quite funny, even if it can feel at one point like the hitman story comes to a halt. It spends a sizable amount of time with Gary and Maddy. Linklater is no stranger to romance with his pitch-perfect Before trilogy, but there are times in Hit Man where it feels like the relationship’s focus is more sexual than a deeper connection. It may anger the prudish “unnecessary sex scene” Twitter users but this is a sexy film all while giving you a strong hook. Halfway through the film, the storyline surrounding the romance becomes tied to a storyline surrounding real killing. That’s where the movie becomes both gripping and outrageously humorous.
The story gets very investing once this shift happens, and there are many scenes in Hit Man that put the biggest smile on your face as a result. It knows how to put the audience a step ahead of some supporting characters while making us suspicious of other characters. Seeing Gary find himself in over his head as he needs to maintain the illusion of who he is despite never killing anyone is quite amusing. That’s what makes Hit Man such a special movie; it’s darkly funny, it has a killer ending, and it’s a well-paced movie with a strong flair from Linklater. Don’t miss it.
SCORE: 8/10
As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 8 equates to “Great.” While there are a few minor issues, this score means that the art succeeds at its goal and leaves a memorable impact.
Disclosure: ComingSoon attended a press screening for our Hit Man review.
