‘Hit Man’ Review

Stars: Glen Powell, Adria Arjona, Austin Amelio, Retta, Sanjay Rao, Molly Bernard, Evan Holtzman, Gralen Bryant Banks | Written by Richard Linklater, Glen Powell | Directed by Richard Linklater

Based on Skip Hollandsworth’s 2001 article written for Texas Monthly magazine (which is still available to read online), Hit Man is a “somewhat true story” inspired by the life of Gary Johnson. The film introduces audiences to Johnson (Glen Powell) as a university professor teaching his class about how life is worth taking risks, something he does not put into practice in his stationary life.

Working part-time with the New Orleans Police Department, Johnson moonlights as a fake hitman for the purposes of police stings. Under the guise of the suave Ron, Gary meets with Madison (Adria Arjona), a potential client who wishes to escape her abusive husband. The professor breaks protocol to help the woman make a new start instead, and finds himself falling for her.

Based on a screenplay he co-wrote with Powell, director Richard Linklater crafts a story which approaches the titular pop-culture staple with a breezy tone. If you’re expecting something propulsive or action-packed from the title, the laid-back tone may catch you off-guard. As the story sees façades donned in the name of stopping potential killers, familiar subject matter is approached in a fresh way with a great sense of humour, while extinguishing the pervasive myth of hit men existing.

Key to this story is Powell, effortlessly selling the various sides to Gary as he depicts the risk-averse professor, a cool hitman persona, or any of the other guises adopted within an entertaining sequence. It makes for a fun take on an identity crisis, as this lead lacking in passion discovers his confidence through these strange circumstances.

Acting opposite him is Arjona, whose role thankfully escapes the trope of a damsel existing to drive the man’s story. She is someone with a new lease on life, enjoying her newfound freedom as she focuses on regaining the agency that her abusive husband took from her. As these dual leads share sizzling chemistry, the characters’ commitment to each-other makes it effortless to buy into their blossoming relationship through thick and thin. It all makes for a playful film which flies by, and ensures that Hit Man is a hit, man!

****½  4.5/5

Hit Man is available to watch on Netflix now.