bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

James Marsh

4/5 stars
Since his memorable turn as the arrogant Hangman in 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick, Glen Powell has quickly ascended to Hollywood It-boy status.
The 35-year-old Texan, graced with Ken doll good looks and wholesome Southern charm, scored one of the year’s biggest sleeper hits with romantic comedy Anyone But You, opposite the similarly sizzling Sydney Sweeney. And he will soon be back on the big screen in summer blockbuster Twisters.
But before that, Powell seizes the chance to show his considerable range in new Netflix action comedy Hit Man.


Based loosely on a 2001 article that appeared in Texas Monthly, Hit Man is the story of Gary Johnson (Powell), a mild-mannered psychology professor who moonlights as a field technician for the New Orleans Police Department.
When the team’s regular undercover officer (Austin Arnelio) is suspended, Gary is coerced into posing as a hired killer to arrest the man attempting to hire him. Gary quickly develops a knack for the job, crafting different aliases tailored to meet the specific needs and expectations of his prospective clients.
Things take a turn, however, at a meeting with the beautiful Madison (Adria Arjona, Morbius), who approaches Gary’s slick alter ego Ray to dispense with her abusive husband.
Instantly smitten, Gary convinces Madison to use the money to start a new life instead, and soon enough the pair become romantically involved.

The only problem is that Madison is falling for Ray, the cold-blooded killer, and as their romance heats up, Gary becomes increasingly lost in his new bad-boy persona.
In addition to starring in the film, Powell also serves as a producer, and co-wrote the screenplay with the film’s director, five-time Oscar nominee Richard Linklater. Hit Man marks their fourth collaboration, after Fast Food Nation, Everybody Want Some! and Apollo 10 1/2: A space age Childhood.
With Hit Man, the pair have created a perfect star vehicle for Powell, who pulls off a variety of different accents and caricatures during Gary’s numerous undercover scenes.
His on-screen romance with Arjona is equally impressive, as they steam up the screen with the kind of effortlessly smouldering chemistry not seen since George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez crossed paths in Out of Sight.

More than simply a two-hour show reel for Powell’s considerable talents, Hit Man reveals itself to be a riotously entertaining neo-noir crime caper, packed with dirty cops, femme fatales, and a swiftly escalating body count.
If Powell still isn’t a household name yet, Hit Man is just the film to put him in the public’s cross hairs.
Hit Man will start streaming on Netflix on June 7.
Want more articles like this? Follow SCMP Film on Facebook


What happened between Daryl Hannah and JFK Jr – and where is she now?

Who is Maya Hawke’s new husband, Christian Lee Hutson – also her music collaborator?

Who is Margot Robbie’s stylist, Andrew Mukamal – who’s behind her Wuthering Heights looks?

Hollywood shaken by Brad Pitt-Tom Cruise fight video made with Chinese AI: ‘over for us’

American cinema

Netflix movie review: Hit Man – Glen Powell cements his star power in Richard Linklater’s charming action romcom

Adria Arjona as Madison and Glen Powell as Gary Johnson in a still from Hit Man. Photo: Brian Roedel/Netflix

Adria Arjona as Madison Masters and Glen Powell as Gary Johnson in a still from Hit Man, directed by Richard Linklater. Photo: Netflix

Glen Powell as Gary Johnson in a still from Hit Man. Photo: Matt Lankes/Netflix

Netflix movie review: Atlas – AI helps Jennifer Lopez save the world in sci-fi thriller

Jennifer Lopez as Atlas Shepherd in a still from Atlas, directed by Brad Peyton and co-starring Simu Liu. Photo: Netflix

Simu Liu as Harlan in a still from Atlas. Photo: Netflix

A still from Atlas. Photo: Netflix

Netflix movie review: My Oni Girl – Japanese fantasy anime by A Whisker Away co-director is frustratingly familiar

Tsumugi (voiced by Miyu Tomita) in a still from My Oni Girl. Photo: Netflix

Tsumugi (left, voiced by Miyu Tomita) and Hiiragi (Kensho Ono) in a still from My Oni Girl, directed by Tomotaka Shibayama. While good to look at, the film feels pedestrian and predictable. Photo: Netflix

Hiiragi (voiced by Kensho Ono) in a still from My Oni Girl. Photo: Netflix

Tsumugi (left, voiced by Miyu Tomita) and Hiiragi (Kensho Ono) in a still from My Oni Girl. Photo: Netflix

Netflix movie review: Monster – Indonesian horror thriller goes the A Quiet Place route but fails miserably

Anantya Kirana as Alana in a still from Monster. Photo: Netflix

Anantya Kirana (left) as Alana and Sultan Hamonangan as Rabin in a still from Monster, directed by Rako Prijanto. Marsha Timothy and Alex Abbad co-star. Photo: Netflix

Alex Abbad (left) as Jack and Anantya Kirana as Alana in a still from Monster. Photo: Netflix

Marsha Timothy as Jack’s partner in a still from Monster. Photo: Netflix

Netflix movie review: 13 Bombs – Indonesian terrorist action thriller set in Jakarta fails to get its message across

Rukman Rosadi (left) and Ganindra Bimo in a still from 13 Bombs, directed by Angga Dwimas Sasongko. Rio Dewanto, Ardhito Pramono, Chicco Kurniawan and Lutesha co-star.

Rio Dewanto as Atok in a still from 13 Bombs.

Chicco Kurniawan as Oscar (left) and Ardhito Pramono as William in a still from 13 Bombs.

Putri Ayudya as CTU agent Karin (right) in a still from 13 Bombs.

Netflix movie review: Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver brings Zack Snyder’s sci-fi epic to an instantly forgettable end

Sofia Boutella as Kora in a still from Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver, directed by Zack Snyder and co-starring Ed Skrein. Photo: Netflix

(From left) Bae Doona, Staz Nair, Michiel Huisman, Sofia Boutella, Elise Duffy and Djimon Hounsou in a still from Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver. Photo: Netflix

Bae Doona in a still from Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver. Photo: Netflix

Lifestyle

Entertainment

Culture

Film & TV

Powell plays Gary Johnson, a psychology professor who also consults with the police and who ends up posing as a hit man in undercover stings
He runs into a potential ‘client’ (Adria Arjona), convinces her to forget her murderous plans, and they become romantically involved


Glen Powell stars as Gary Johnson, a professor who poses as a hit man to help the police in stings. When he falls for a potential client (Adria Arjona), he gets caught up in his pretend role.


Film reviews

Cinema

Fame and celebrity

Hollywood

TV shows and streaming video

Netflix

An assessment or critique of a service, product or creative endeavour.  Film reviews, restaurant reviews, reviews of art exhibitions. (Eg. Crazy Rich Asians: an important film, yes, but a good one?)


Review