The Big Hit

Melvin: "Technically, you can call me a hitman."
Keiko: "Really? A hitman? Does that pay well?"
Melvin: "Oh of course. I make a killing."

release year: 1998
genre: action/comedy
viewing setting: home DVD 12/15/22 and 11/24/13 and 4/19/02 and theater 4/25/98

synopsis: A team of young hitmen gets into trouble when they kidnap the wrong girl.

impressions: This was a pretty good ride. It's about a group of young, hip hitmen and their various problems. The protagonist is Melvin, who pretty much lets all the people in his life walk all over him. Anyway, he gets talked into helping with an unauthorized kidnapping, which turns out to be a big mistake, and his buddy frames him, and then a couple of vans full of other hitmen come to get him. Of course, this happens right when his annoying fiancee brings her annoying family over for the day, and also when his mistress shows up demanding money. There were plenty of snappy lines and violent shootouts. Action and comedy - it's all here.

things to watch for: The dinner scene with Melvin's fiancee, where all the gunmen are lining up their shots under the table as the regular people just keep obliviously talking about stupid stuff.

acting: This was kind of a wimpy character for Mark Wahlberg (probably because the character was written that way) but in the end he takes care of all his problems. Lou Diamond Phillips turns in a great over-the-top role as a bad guy. Model China Chow makes her screen debut as the kidnapped girl. Christina Applegate is the annoying fiancee, and Lainie Kazan is her even-more-annoying mom. Elliott Gould is her laid-back father. Avery Brooks is the guy who hires Melvin and friends out for jobs.

final word: This is about as funny as a movie about hitmen can be.

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