✯✯✯✯½

The true story of Hit Man almost feels like you’d be watching the material that could make a parody. But that just might as well be why Richard Linklater is perfect to bring it to the screen. Based on an article written by Skip Hollandsworth, whose article on Bernie Tiede had lent itself to what would eventually become Bernie, Hit Man is Richard Linklater’s take on an action vehicle, starring Glen Powell (who co-wrote with Linklater) as an unexpected hero of sorts. But that also might just as well be why Hit Man works, because this combination opts for the most bizarre routes while staying true to its roots.

Glen Powell stars as Gary Johnson, a philosophy professor who works nights with his local police force as a surveillance expert. His life finds itself in new disarray when an undercover officer who poses as a reliable hitman is placed on leave, now leaving himself to take the fake hitman position. All seems to be going well for Gary, up until he falls in love with a client-to-be, Madison (Adria Arjona), who desires to escape an abusive relationship with her boyfriend. But the end result of this sets him at risk for blowing his cover, and then Gary gets himself caught in more shenanigans as he struggles to hide the truth about one alias from another – and a dead body is later found.

Maybe the best thing about a movie like Hit Man is the fact that the setup could just as easily be a lot colder than you’d expect, but Richard Linklater opts for something more fun. It’s a lot of fun just watching Glen Powell let his own charisma take over the picture, because he carries enough of a presence to make a distinctive action hero. But I also just find that it’s made even funnier because Gary Johnson is such a nerdy character who doesn’t really know what he’s up against, which makes this would-be hero a lovable one in turn.

Even then, I think the best thing about Richard Linklater’s manner of letting this story come to the screen is just the fact that he’s never afraid to let it become appropriately dark. Even as we get a sense that things get very steamy between Glen Powell and Adira Arjona, Linklater doesn’t hide away from how dark and twisted this whole affair is. All of this owes itself to the manner by which the police department gets themselves involved with the affairs of Gary’s personal life, and in a sense it becomes clear they’re no different from the operation that Gary is posing undercover for.

But I think that the most fun aspects of Hit Man come clear when you know that this is a film all about someone simply trying to do what he thinks is right. Perhaps that’s what makes this very outrageous true story feel very believable, because the way we’re seeing the world through Gary Johnson’s eyes is one of complete earnestness. On one hand, it makes for a very dark and brooding comedy, but above everything else what you’re feeling happening underneath is the formation of someone that could become an unsuspecting action hero. There’s only so much cruelty in this world as Gary experiences, which may just as well be the most true to life we’ll see Gary’s story come about on the screen.

What’s always great about watching a new film by Richard Linklater is knowing that he’s a filmmaker whose style can always be felt, regardless of whatever genre he tackles. Whether it’s a talky comedy-drama like Dazed and Confused, the romantic Before trilogy, or the philosophical Waking Life, they all feel like you can track them down to Linklater. Hit Man continues that string of successes for him, because the best thing about Linklater’s movies is that it can be felt when he’s having so much fun with trying out each new idea. And it’s also the perfect showcase for Glen Powell’s star power.

All images via Netflix.

Directed by Richard Linklater
Screenplay by Richard Linklater, Glen Powell, from the magazine article by Skip Hollandsworth
Produced by Richard Linklater, Mike Blizzard, Michael Costigan, Jason Bateman, Glen Powell
Starring Glen Powell, Adria Arjona, Austin Amelio, Retta
Release Date: TBD
Running Time: 113 minutes