Richard Linklater’s "Hit Man" suffers from a serious lack of direction. This attempt to mix genres falls flat, beginning as a clumsy comedy before shifting abruptly into dark noir and eventually landing somewhere in the realm of a strange romantic story with erotic undertones. The film is truly awful, though its lead actor's established Hollywood presence offers some small compensation. Mild-mannered professor Gary Johnson (Glen Powell) has an unusual pastime: he works for the New Orleans Police Department as a fake hit man. Skilled at adopting different personas and wearing outlandish costumes, Gary knows exactly what to say to potential clients—and their targets—to get them apprehended. Things become complicated when he develops feelings for Madison (Adria Arjona), a woman who seeks his services to have her unpleasant husband killed. A romantic connection forms between them amidst layers of deceit and moral uncertainty, profoundly altering Gary’s life. The concept behind the film is promising, but Linklater fails to bring it together effectively. While I'm not generally a fan of his work, he completely misjudges this project. The story feels disconnected, and the shifts in tone are too abrupt, with no amount of talent able to compensate for the unbalanced mix of comedy, romance, and suspense. The film falters on nearly every front, but thankfully Powell prevents it from being totally unbearable. Powell is the best thing about the movie. His charisma and adaptability are evident as he portrays his character’s different facets. He's an actor who can convincingly become someone else, and the film at least gives him a chance to demonstrate his abilities. Powell delivers a strong performance; the movie itself does not. Linklater injects unnecessary melodrama into the relationship between Gary and Madison, and despite their believable chemistry, this only exacerbates the film’s problems. Because her character's reasons are unclear, it was difficult to become truly invested in her connection with Gary’s invented identity, Ron. For a movie that had the possibility of being so original, it ultimately feels commonplace and unfulfilling. Despite its limited release in theaters, "Hit Man" is a regrettable film that seems perfectly suited for streaming on Netflix.

Source on TMDB