Hit Man Movie review - Sexy, engaging and a damn good time (By Ajay Kumar)

 Linklater is a versatile director who doesn’t particularly stick with a genre and often explores new areas in his works. Coincidental or not, this true story-based ‘Hit Man’ is certainly a story that fits his filmography. As you might guess from the title, ‘Hit Man’ is about a... hitman. But the real twist here is what kind of hitman he is.  

That’s where the interesting part of the movie lies and what makes it a really entertaining film. I highly recommend not checking any promotional material if you haven’t because the fun lies in how the story escalates throughout the movie.  

Glen Powell’s character, Gary Johnson, is in a situation where he has to don multiple identities and get in touch with the underworld and regular civilians with murderous intentions. Through this setup, ‘Hit Man’ not only has an intriguing plot but fully utilizes its potential while having a lot of fun with it. It holds your attention within the first ten minutes, and it’s a joyride all the way.  

The plot might feel like it’s taking its time, often leading to small pacing issues and repetitive plot points in the first half, but Linklater is perfectly setting up things that wonderfully pay off, and it’s entertaining to watch how well planned out the movie was. Even beyond its surface entertainment, ‘Hit Man’ offers an interesting take in exploring identity and how it plays a huge part in our lives.  

Trust me, it feels very relatable. The characters' motivations make perfect sense and at times are even justifiable, making it much more riveting to watch these interesting characters interact. With a plot wearing multiple identities, it offers a natural position for a wonderful acting showcase, and Glen Powell pulls it off with ease. He switches between multiple identities with subtle nuances at times and goes over the top for the rest, and it’s fun to experience it.  

Adria Arjona adds the "spice" to the movie, taking the story to much more interesting and entertaining places. Austin Amelio plays the opposite of Glen Powell’s character to perfection. The sizzling chemistry between Glen Powell and Adria Arjona, the rivalry between Powell and a certain character—everything felt like a careful narrative.  

Considering the movie isn’t an absolutely accurate representation of the real-life story, Linklater picked the parts that work for a movie, and quite frankly, that’s a good choice.

Ultimately, ‘Hit Man’ is both a crowd-pleasing entertainer and an interesting and substantive story, exploring the theme of identity organically within its narrative. It’s funny, sexy, engaging, and overall, a damn good time.