Everyone say a huge thank you to Netflix for finally bringing Hit Man to Canada!
Seriously, I am not sure why we didn’t get it when it originally dropped on Netflix elsewhere in June – maybe it had to do with the timing of its theatrical run – but I am so happy that we finally have it. And, unsurprisingly, I am happy to report that I watched it last night and had a great time with it.
One of my favourite things to experience is loving a movie that I went completely blind into. Going into Hit Man, I was aware of very little beyond a short review I read weeks – if not months – ago in which Glen Powell was compared to Cary Grant. This, admittedly, had me rolling my eyes dismissively as a massive Cary Grant fan but I ultimately conceded that the writer may have had a point after seeing Twisters in July. That’s also when I decided I needed to see Hit Man as soon as possible.
Without spoiling much, the premise of the film requires Powell to play multiple characters and it’s not only his physical appearance and attire that changes, it’s the personality that has to change for the multiple characters to make sense. In this, Powell successfully brings each of his characters to life in a way that is remarkably convincing and utterly fun. I’d argue that a lot of this fun-ness comes straight from the fact that Powell happens to be incredibly charming, which is a trait that can often compensate for a lack of acting skills, but Glen Powell also – and pardon my language – acts the shit out of this role.
He is able to develop little mannerisms and quirks for each of his characters, expressed through body language, facial expressions, and even speech, that make the story – and his “main” character – believable because for the story to be believable the audience also needs to believe that our protagonist is capable of shifting from one persona to the other at the drop of a bat. Glen Powell is capable of doing just and that is ultimately what sells the story. Sure, there is a bit of comedy to every single of his characters, over exaggerated accents and extravagant outfits accompanying stereotypical and a bit of over the top facial expressions and mannerisms, but those work to build the story, too. Powell’s main character – Gary – is supposed to be acting as well. And for the story to be believable, Powell’s acting when it comes to those other characters has to be Gary’s acting as those characters which is a feat he undoubtedly accomplishes in this film. It’s fun, it’s ridiculous, and the audience can't help but find it believable that someone like Gary would approach those other characters exactly how Powell makes him approach them.
Beyond Powell’s acting, the romance was a highlight for me. The chemistry between Glen Powell and Adria Arjona is undeniable and, as more of her character’s personality is revealed, the two actors effortlessly portray just how wonderfully their characters match each other’s freak. The tone of the romance, wrapped up in a murder mystery, is highly reminiscent of Hitchcock’s romances and the sexual tension and passion on display remind me of that between Eva Marie Saint and Cary Grant in Hitchcock’s North by Northwest. The more I think about it, Powell’s character and the situation he finds himself in can both draw parallels to Cary Grant’s in North by Northwest.
It’s unexpected that 2024 is unfolding to be the year of Glen Powell but I no longer hold any qualms about it. It’s refreshing to see glints of Old Hollywood have their moments, too, and if there is one thing I wish had been done differently when it comes to Hit Man, it is giving it a wider and a longer theatrical run. This one would have been fun to see with an audience on the big screen.