The Big Hit (1998)

THE BIG HIT is another nice-guy-as-hit-man black-comedy-with-ac-
tion, kinda like a more maniacal GROSSE POINT BLANKE.  Hong Kong 
helmer Che-Kirk Wong brings quite a bit of energy with him, but he 
forces the comedy too hard.  The jokes end up feeling more... cal-
culated than spontaneous.  (Okay, okay, I did laugh at a playful 
poking of GHOST, when Mark Wahlberg and China Chow get all hot and 
bothered while preparing poultry-- and kosher poultry at that!)  
Thankfully, the action sequences play better.  They occur at either 
end of the film-- mostly bullet ballet, but with a couple car 
chases thrown in for fun.  In fact, it's the last such chase that's 
the film's most delightfully daffy bit.  There's Wahlberg trying to 
outrun a car, through the woods, going downhill, and never once 
thinking to just... turn and run in a perpendicular direction.  
Only in the movies.  With Lou Diamond Phillips, Christina Apple-
gate, Avery Brooks, Lela Rochon, Lainie Kazan, and Elliot Gould.  
(Rated "R"/93 min.)

Grade: C+

Copyright 1998 Michael J. Legeros
Movie Hell is a trademark of Michael J. Legeros

Originally posted to triangle.movies in MOVIE HELL: May 3, 1998