The Big Hit (1998) Reviews

• Mark Whalberg: Urban Hit man - Gen X style

  ebiros22006-01-23

  This movie is about a day in the life of a hit man played by actor Mark Whalberg. Melvin (Mark Whalberg) has good life thanks to his talent as a hit man, but has very working class mentality going about his life. But none of the girls he associates with shares his work ethics, but just sees him as a cash cow, and a guy to dump all their troubles on to, until Cisco (Lou Diamond Phillips) kidnaps a Japanese mogul Jiro's (Sab Nishi) daughter Keiko (China Chow) and dumps her on to his lap. Keiko is the first to sympathize with Melvin and hits it off with him. There are three stories going on simultaneously in this movie: One with Cisco and his boss Paris (Avery Brooks) who's a friend of Jiro's and wants the guy who kidnapped Keiko dead (not knowing that it's actually Cisco who did it). Second with Melvin's girl friend Pam (Christina Applegate) who's Jewish, and has a mother who is against her marrying this Irish Catholic guy. Third with Melvin and Keiko who's being kept at his house. All three converge at Melvin's house at lunch, and pandemonium breaks loose. The story line is one of the most original, and is a feel good movie '90s style where the under dog anti-hero gets the good he deserves in the end. The riot is seeing all the other materialistic people around Melvin all trying to take advantage of him showing how nice of a guy he is despite his choice of profession. Was this movie great ? Yes !! And is highly recommended.

• Ideal party-movie!

  limette2004-12-03

  Watch Melvin Smiley's more than complicated life erupt in chaos. His fiancée's parents are coming for a visit, his (other!) girlfriend is to blame that he's kind of out of money, he really ought to return the tape of King Kong Lives... On top of all that, Melvin soon gets problems of an even worse kind. A professional hit-man, Melvin suddenly finds himself in terrible danger of getting killed by his own co-workers when a kidnapping turns out to have been a bad idea. It's crazy. Exaggerated, chaotic, full of somehow weird characters, often unrealistic action scenes, fun. I'm surprised this movie is so little known, and I am even more surprised that so many people hate it. Sure, if you expect a serious, realistic action movie, The Big Hit isn't the movie for you. You really need a sense of humour for this. Expect an action comedy, almost a parody, and you'll be entertained for sure.

• Let us not forget the trace buster buster buster

  tone_e20002005-06-06

  Indeed Mark Wahlberg is a bit cack in most of his films, but The Big Hit is a masterpiece of comedy. The action is fun, but is not meant to be taken seriously. I think that some people might have watched this film expecting a standard action film, in which case I can understand their disappointment. It's just good fun and Lou Diamond Phillips is brilliant. His over-the-top performance is perfect and is something I'll never forget. The Big Hit is one of those films where you either get it or you don't. If you don't then I can understand how it might seem a bit two-dimensional. However, anyone who hasn't seen it should take a chance.

• If you think the movie was supposed to be serious, you missed the point...

  vincea19062001-01-13

  I had absolutely no idea that this movie was supposed to be a silly, spoofy action film when I saw it at the theater. The first 10 minutes makes this perfectly clear. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie for just being "guilty pleasure" escapist entertainment. Yes the movie is silly and corny - but that was the intent of the film. Its more than understandable that this movie isn't for everybody, either you love it or hate it. However, if you watched the movie and took it seriously (ie the breakdancing during the first 'hit'), then you definitely missed the point. 8 out of 10.

• Organized crime has never been so funny

  soranno2002-10-29

  Mark Wahlberg portrays Melvin, a professional hit man whose financial problems make him a reluctant partner in crime in a kidnapping scheme. Melvin's closest associate, Cisco (Lou Diamond Phillips) plots to kidnap the daughter (China Chow) of a wealthy foreign film maker (Sab Shimono) and demand a huge ransom in the process that will help all of their financial positions. What originally seemed like the perfect crime soon turns deadly when their boss (Avery Brooks) who also just happens to be the godfather of the kidnappee finds out about their scheme. In an effort to save his own skin, Cisco pins the entire thing on Melvin. Now Melvin is running (and gunning) for his life from a squad of deadly hit men as well as the power hungry Cisco. In the process, he also begins falling for the beautiful kidnap victim (only in the movies, folks). Sure, the film is hokey at times but it makes up for that with an abundance of gripping action scenes and hilarious comedy.