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Glen Powell (Top Gun: Maverick) is in the ascension. With leading man looks, a movie star mentor in Tom Cruise, and co-writing credits on Hit Man, there seems to be little the man cannot do. That reputation is unlikely to be hampered by this Netflix release, which sees him slip into the skin of Gary Johnson. A full-time college tutor specialising in psychology, who just happens to be an undercover hitman at the weekends.
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This might sound like the stuff of a high concept Hollywood imagination, but according to solid sources it all happened. Something that director and co-writer Richard Linklater (School of Rock) embraces with both hands, giving Powell carte blanche to slip into numerous disguises and showcase his on-screen charisma.
Image via Netflix
There is something so fundamentally cool about this movie, that the 2-hour running time barely registers. Whether debating the complexity of personal identity or giving potential felons a steely eyed once over, Powell is in full command of his faculties. Aided and abetted by some serious sassy slapstick back-up in Retta (Claudette), Austin Amelio (Jasper) and Sanjay Rao (Phil), Hit Man feels like a real ensemble effort.
Comparisons to Grosse Pointe Blank feel inevitable at this point. Martin Blank (John Cusack) returned home for his high school reunion, trying to keep his contract killing sideline off the radar, only for it all to unravel backed by a solid 80s soundtrack and Dan Akyroyd in tow. Hit Man shares considerable DNA with this cult classic, if only for the balance between existential angst, debates around the human condition and a super cool slash off-kilter tone. Then there is the matter of that central dynamic between Cusack and Minnie Driver (Good Will Hunting), which also gets a hat tip or two.
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Adria Ajdona (Good Omens) might not sound like a household name, but Hit Man is going to make her extremely popular. Opposite Powell as Madison Matthews, she adds an essential chemistry element that turns this Netflix movie into mandatory viewing. This firebrand force of nature goes toe to toe with him throughout the movie, once they get past the small matter of Madison wanting her husband dead. As Hit Man continues to build towards an arsonist’s cookbook of a crescendo, their relationship moves beyond fake hitman and client, as Gary blurs the line between himself and his assassins alter-ego Ron.
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Now, Hit Man never pretends to reinvent the wheel with its central conceit of college teacher slash undercover operative, but there is no getting away from the fact this is serious fun. Highlights outside of the central pairing include Austin Amelio’s Jasper, a strung-out colleague, who provides the comic relief as he gets increasingly exasperated over the antics of this academic interloper. However, all that aside, there is avoiding the fact that Hit Man highlights a movie star in the making. With the traction created by Anyone But You opposite Sidney Sweeney and tornado sequel Twisters hitting screens soon, this feels like a perfect opportunity to kick back and find out what all the fuss is about.
Image via Netflix
Hit Man is available to stream on Netflix now.