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Mark Wahlberg, Lou Diamond Phillips, Christina Applegate, Avery Brooks, Bokeem Woodbine ... see more see more... , China Chow , Antonio Sabato Jr. , Lainie Kazan , Elliott Gould , Sab Shimono , Robin Dunne , Lela Rochon , Danny Smith , Joshua Peace , David Usher

Kirk Wong directed this comedy actioner about mild-mannered, beleaguered hitman Melvin Smiley (Mark Wahlberg), who very much wants to be liked. However, the naive Mel is being taken advantage of by bo... read more read more...th his girlfriends and associates (who cheat him out of his bonuses). Mel and his "Odd Squad" -- Cisco (Lou Diamond Phillips), Crunch (Bokeem Woodbine), Vince (Antonio Sabato Jr.), and Gump (Robin Dunne) -- work for Paris (Avery Brooks), head of an international crime cartel and a contractor for hit jobs. Mel's mistress Chantel (Lela Rochon), who views him as a meal ticket, lives rent-free in his house, misspends his money, and is continually thinking of ways to get more from him. Her latest scheme is concocting tales about overdue mortgage and car payments, but she really wants the money to run away with her lover Sergio. Mel and his team head into a big shootout to waste some rival mobsters. One person kills the electricity; the others don night-vision goggles. Melvin handles most of the action, including shooting while bungee-bouncing near a staircase, finally making a spectacular bungee-exit from the top floors of the building just as it explodes in flames. A quick and easy weekend job backfires when their kidnap victim, a rich industrialist's teenage daughter Keiko Nishi (China Chow), turns out to be the godchild of their boss, crime czar Paris. When Cisco, mastermind of the plan, is summoned by Paris, he manages to shift blame to Mel. Meanwhile, Chantel absconds with Mel's earnings just as the disapproving parents (Elliott Gould, Lainie Kazan) of Mel's fiancee Pam (Christina Applegate) are due for a visit. Since Pam gave her parents $50,000 from Mel's bank account, they're on their way to thank him and hopefully benefit from another financial windfall. As his professional and domestic woes collide, Mel finds himself dodging bullets while trying to impress his potential in-laws. Throw in an overzealous video-store clerk demanding the return of an overdue tape (King Kong Returns), and it's not long before Mel's life starts to unravel. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

Flixster Users

59% liked it

28,878 ratings

Critics

41% liked it

39 critics

R, 1 hr. 27 min.

Directed by: Kirk Wong

Release Date: April 24, 1998

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DVD Release Date: March 6, 2001

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Stats: 1,076 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,076)

  • DrZeek
    September 21, 2008
    DrZeek
    Melvin: The truth is, I can't handle the idea of her not liking me. I can't handle the idea of ANYBODY not liking me.
    Cisco: Hey Melvin, the hundred or so people you've killed in the last five years, more than likely have families that don't think too highly of you.

    I Always hav... read moree fun watching this movie, a hit-man comedy that is self-aware, never taking itself seriously, and full of some cool action.

    Mark Wahlberg is a "nice" hitman, who just wants everyone to be copacetic. He has money problems due to his fiance and his bloodsucking girlfriend. Other subplots involving the discovery of masturbation, acceptance of different religions, and kidnapping, what a joy.

    The action scenes go back and forth between very cool and ridiculously over the top. More random humor to follow as well (all signs point to the tracebuster-buster).

    Cisco: Well ain't that a bitch... All I wanted to do was to sail my boat, man, you know? Navigate by the stars, see dolphins race alongside, you know, maybe even kill a few of them.

    The cast also includes Lou Diamond Phillips, Christina Applegate, Avery Brooks, and Elliot Gould, further fueliing the absurdity.

    Paris: What would you do to someone, who was fucking with you in your own house?
    Cisco: I'd bust some caps!

    My absolute favorite Guilty Pleasure movie, even more so than Starship Troopers.

    Melvin Smiley: Technically, you can call me a hitman.
    Keiko Nishi: Really? A hitman? Does that pay well?
    Melvin Smiley: Oh of course. I make a killing.
  • DragonEyeMorrison
    February 26, 2008
    DragonEyeMorrison
    Hollywood failing once more in trying to replicate Hong Kong action/crime flicks.
  • kpn666
    January 25, 2008
    kpn666
    Hey Hey!

    Now that Ive FINALLY got the DVD, I can do a proper review!

    Man, they dont make them like they used to. All the overblown, adrenalin charged action scenes, the grace and beauty not just in the choreography but in the number of bullets and explosions one can throw ... read morein. Those were the good ole days, and along with movies like Face Off, Broken Arrow and Replacement Killers, this sorta ventures into the Action/Comedy zone, and does pretty well, I loved it.

    I guess this is the movie which bought Mark Wahlberg into the action genre, playing the too nice hit man, in contrast to the devilish Lou Diamond Phillips, who was hilarious as the out of control killer.

    Aside from the director Kirk Wong (Crime Story), the movie was produced by John Woo and Wesley Snipes, so the action shines, and not too much fancy pants stuff, just some slick moves and fight scenes and interesting comedy moments, some which were stolen from other movies, but of course, who gives a F? im having too much fun watching it.

    And for all action/Hong Kong style fans, so would you.
  • skactopus
    October 3, 2007
    skactopus
    An explosive comedy. Well, it isn't all that explosive, at least by today's standards, but it is pretty hilarious.

    The story isn't all that great and it is fairly stupid at times. But, it is this story that sets up the comedic elements for this film. This is one of those fil

    ... read morems where it's on the borderline between being a comedy or being a serious action flick. Unfortunately, this film has just a little too much ridiculous comedy that takes away from the seriousness of this film. This movie would have definitely benefited more from being an action adventure rather than a comedy.

    The acting is OK at best and I think it is due to the fact that there are a little too many characters for a short 90 minute film. This is one of the earlier films of Mark Wahlberg and you can see that his acting isn't as mature as his latter movies like The Italian Job. I would love to say that the star of the show is China Chow because she is damn beautiful, but the real show stealer is Lou Diamond Phillips. He portrays his character nicely and his performance is memorable. One of his greatest roles. Another thing about this film is that they market this film at having Antonio Sabato Jr. as one of the co-stars. Well, he is in the film for the first 15 minutes then he disappears. Do not watch this film if you just want to see him.

    The action in this film comes in the beginning and the end and it is pretty explosive and entertaining for this type of movie. There are lots of shootings and explosions to go around.

    Give this film a try if you want to see a comedic action film. Just don't take it seriously because this is The Big Hit, not The Big Lebowski.
  • YLOWBSTARDreturns
    September 6, 2007
    YLOWBSTARDreturns
    A lot of fun.
  • deano
    July 9, 2007
    deano
    Dumb, but fun action-comedy with the cast, outrageous stunts and car chases.
  • superclerk25
    February 26, 2007
    superclerk25
    It was ok.
  • sanjurosamurai
    January 25, 2007
    sanjurosamurai
    entertaining, mark wahlberg was great
  • lesleyanorton
    October 5, 2009
    lesleyanorton
    Wimpy yet macho hit man Mark Wahlberg is put upon by all and sundry because he just wants to be liked, until kidnapped Japanese girl helps him cook dinner. Something like that. Lots of likeable, implausible action scenes offset by lots of unlikeable, duplicitous characters. Marky... read more Mark sure was fit in them days though.
  • irisheyes686
    April 23, 2012
    irisheyes686
    Awful. And I love Mark Wahlberg and Christina Applegate.

View All The Big Hit Reviews

Critic Reviews

Jack Mathews
February 14, 2001
Jack Mathews, Los Angeles Times

The Big Hit is nothing more, or less, than a big goof. Full Review

Susan Stark
January 1, 2000
Susan Stark, Detroit News

...crude and bloody but effective action comedy... Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

As low- intelligence entertainment goes, this film is very much a hit-and-miss affair. Full Review

Jay Carr
January 1, 2000
Jay Carr, Boston Globe

In its non-A-list way, The Big Hit is the most successful attempt yet to transfer the Hong Kong action movie to Hollywood.

Peter Stack
January 1, 2000
Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle

Score it big-time inane but a load of fun. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The characters in these movies exist in a Twilight Zone where thousands of rounds of ammunition are fired, but no one ever gets shot unless the plot requires him to. The bullets have read the screenplay. Full Review

Lawrence Van Gelder
January 1, 2000
Lawrence Van Gelder, New York Times

Insatiable moviegoers are advised to wait till this action-comedy, written by Ben Ramsey, thuds into video stores; tasteful moviegoers will avoid it altogether. Full Review

Rob Gonsalves
July 23, 2007
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com

The script, by rookie writer Ben Ramsey, is among the most disgraceful screenplays ever to be produced by a major studio. Full Review

Blake French
January 8, 2004
Blake French, Filmcritic.com

The Big Hit should be titled The Big Miss. That?s a really bad pun, but it?s better than anything in this movie. Full Review

Jeffrey Westhoff
May 30, 2003
Jeffrey Westhoff, Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

This frantic black comedy is one long obscure joke.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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