Hit Man

Glen Powell plays Gary Johnson, a college professor who moonlights as a fake hit man working with the cops.  Powell also co-wrote the script with director Richard Linklater (Boyhood, School of Rock).  The film is based on the life of a man named Gary Johnson.  Because suspects had never seen him before, he was perfect to assume the role of a hit man. Once he is briefed about a new target, he approaches them and asks them a series of questions.  Then it’s off to jail for them, and another person is safe.  Gary is quite successful at this, and there is even a fun nod to Superman when the mild-mannered, cat-loving professor goes home after donning his glasses. Yes, there is humor to be found here, especially in the first act, as he appears in creative disguises before approaching them.

However, the longer Gary does this, the more he becomes confident enough to create Ron, a persona that possesses the charm, confidence and other characteristics that his alter ego lacks. Soon enough, he meets Madison (a lovely Adria Arjona), who wants him to kill her abusive and controlling husband. When he declines, they both develop an attraction to one another. Powell and Arjona both have terrific chemistry, and they are very entertaining. Supporting members include Retta and Austin Amelio are great as other cops working with him, with Gary replacing the latter in his undercover role.

Suddenly, Gary realizes that switching into his Ron persona is really working for him. However, keeping secrets from his team predictably leads to trouble. Likewise, Gary soon has trust issues with others, and as the plot thickens it takes multiple twists and turns.

This film has been billed as a romantic comedy, but I feel it’s fair to warn you to temper your expectations here. As I mentioned, it does contain some humor, but the emphasis really is on the romance. There are a few steamy sex scenes here, but they are not particularly graphic. As clever as Linklater and Powell can be, the final act is something that most viewers will find rather predictable (I certainly did.)

As the credits rolled, I had fun with this genre blender. If this sounds enjoyable to you, you’ll probably like it as well. I’m not so sure that Powell is Hollywood’s next rising star, but he is a great actor and co-writer here. Hit Man is mostly on target.

115 minutes

In select theaters May 24, and streaming on Netflix June 7.