REVIEW: Glen Powell is a Hit in ‘Hit Man’
Gary Johnson (Glen Powell) is your garden variety college professor. There is nothing overtly special about him. From how he dresses to his demeanor, no one, not even his students, give him a second glance. However, Johnson has a secret life no one knows about. This life features Johnson donning a variety of different identities as he moonlights as a pretend hit man for the New Orleans police office. Finding success with his secret gig, everything is going well for Johnson until he comes across a suspect he can’t take down, Maddy Masters (Adria Arjona). Convinced she doesn’t really want to kill her husband, Johnson, under his persona Ron, manages to talk Maddy out of putting the hit out on her husband. What Johnson didn’t expect was to fall for Maddy and into a web of lies he may not be able to find his way out of.
Based on the Texas Monthly article, “Hit Man” by Skip Hollandsworth, Powell reunited with his Everybody Wants Some!! director, Richard Linklater, to bring this story to life on the big screen. Unlike the article, Powell and Linklater’s version focuses heavily on the romance between Gary and Maddy but does so in a way that they never lose what makes the movie so good, and that is Powell’s ability to portray an array of different characters. In the movie, the audience watches as Powell transforms into a different version of Gary for each suspect he meets. Though we only meet some of these versions for brief moments, they immensely add to the comedic factor of the movie.
Linklater and Powell also do a wonderful job making the audience think one thing is going to happen, and then spin it in a different direction. Typically, when storytellers do this, the direction makes absolutely no sense. But in this movie, it makes sense, especially because Johnson is explaining why he is doing what he’s doing as he is lecturing to his class. It’s a brilliant way of showing the audience the real Gary Johson and not losing him to his persona Ron.
Powell hits his stride in this movie. No matter which persona of Gary he is undertaking, he nails it every time. His ability to not only transform his voice, but the way he holds himself was a joy to watch. Arjona was the perfect pick to star alongside Powell. Maddy is not only sexy, but very conniving and Arjona plays both these roles with ease. Retta and Austin Amelio round out the cast as Johnson’s co-workers at the police department, Claudette, and Jasper. Both actors’ comedic ability adds so much to characters that could have been thrown away characters, especially Amelio’s Jasper.
Hit Man is a fun time from start to finish. Powell continues to prove that he is a leading man that can fit into any genre. His chemistry with Arjona is off the charts and the movie will have you laughing with Powell’s different antics. I highly recommend checking this film out, whether it be in theaters or on Netflix. You are guaranteed an enjoyable time.
Grade: A