This review was published during the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes of 2023. Hit Man would not exist without the labour of its writers, director, actors, and the many departments integral to the filmmaking process. Learn more about the demands of actors and writers here.
Glen Powell is an incredibly charming, good-natured, and handsome rising star. He has left a massive impression on Hollywood and audiences with his toothy smile, all-American good looks, and golden retriever energy that so many love. He has proven that he can do comedy, drama, and action, and he was in Spy Kids 3D: Game Over, the pinnacle of cinema. Jokes aside, he has shown that he has immeasurable talent and has steadily grown bigger and bigger, successfully transitioning from television actor to movie star.
At the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), audiences and critics alike were gifted with a new Glen Powell, Glen Powell, the screenwriter. Richard Linklater’s latest directorial effort was inspired by a true story, that he and Powell adapted. The film follows Gary Johnson, a seemingly ordinary albeit awkward and eccentric guy. He is a college professor who also happens to be a tech-savvy civilian who aids the Houston police with jobs here and there. That is, until one day, he steps in as an undercover mole. Gary finds that he is good at it and adopts the role of a “hitman for hire” for the police to lure out individuals intent on causing others harm. Gary dives into his characters enthusiastically, almost like he does all this for Broadway. One day, in one of his better hitman roles (and one that perfectly utilizes Powell’s innate hotness and charm), he meets Maddy Masters (Adria Arjona), a desperate woman who wants to off her husband. Well, Gary, who has adopted the name Ron, helps her escape arrest by talking her out of it and the subsequently falls for Maddy, and things spiral from there.
Hit Man is unexpectedly one of the best romantic comedies ever. The script is seamless as it weaves a story of deception and love. Powell is having a grand ole time with a story that is very much based on reality but is the inspiration for a truly zany, endearing tale of self-growth and love. The script, co-written by Linklater and Powell, has some shadings of a typical Linklater screenplay, however, Powell’s personality is very evident throughout. Whip-smart and always charming, the script is fresh of breath air, allowing the audience to fully embrace a stranger-than-fiction story that is, in fact, greatly fictionalized here. It’s, in a word, a hoot. But also very, very sexy.
In more ways than one, Hit Man is a starring vehicle for Glen Powell. Scream the TV show opened a door for him. Everybody Wants Some!! and Set It Up and put him on the radar. Top Gun: Maverick expanded his horizons. Hit Man should make him a bona fide star, that is if Anyone But You doesn’t get there first. He is excellent in this. Gary’s transformation as he becomes Ron and Ron becomes him is truly a feat and incredible to watch. Gary’s many disguises will have you bellow laughing so hard. Gary and subsequently Powell’s commitment is incredibly commendable as he is tasked with playing a man who is, at first, rather plain and then having a true metamorphosis.
Hit Man will probably get the dark comedy label slapped on it, maybe even a comedy thriller, but for me, it is a romantic comedy. Powell is very much the star, but Adria Arjona is the other half that makes this ship float. She damn near steals the whole show from Powell. For years, casual movie fans and critics have lamented the lost art of chemistry-based casting. So many romantic pairings feel AI-generated, life-less. Arjona and Powell are smoking hot together; their chemistry is an ode to a bygone era. Arjona has the difficult task of playing what one will first assume is a thankless love interest role. But to Powell and Linklater’s credit and Arjona’s immensely mesmerizing performance, Maddy is much more than the average love interest. She is dynamic, unpredictable, and just as crazy as Gary/Ron. There are numerous times throughout the film where you can feel the audience hold their breaths as to not to miss a moment of her performance, eyes wide, ready to take in a masterclass in the making. I always knew she was one to watch, ever since stumbling on the short-lived Emerald City, so I have to say, her performance here makes me feel super vindicated.
Hit Man is a treat, filled with many hearty laughs, gasps and swoons. Linklater’s understated directing helps the script shine brighter, and if there is any justice, Hit Man will be at the top of the list for screenwriting awards in the 2024-25 season.
It is a tragedy that Hit Man will miss out on a theatrical release because its premiere at TIFF was one the most exhilarating experiences I have ever had–the audience was locked in! Netflix is a great means to share films worldwide, but there are significant limitations with streaming, and a lack of a home video release further exasperates it. (Criterion, hear my prayers!) See Hit Man when it has its limited theatrical release; make it a top priority, as it not only boosts an outstanding Powell performance but also puts Arjona on everyone’s radar!
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