HITMAN, a smart, engaging and very funny semi-true winner from writer-director Richard Linklater in 2023 did the release & catch circuit from film festival to selected theatrical release in ’24, followed by streaming success in summer of that year. The film’s leading man Glen Powell co-wrote the script with Linklater, and co-produced as well. At 36, after serving initiation rites in 27 features since starting at age 13 in 2003, with his great job in this sleeper Powell looks assured of Big Stuff Ahead. Also likely en route to higher climes is smoldering 32-year old co-star Adria Arjona. The supporting cast is stuffed with tasty bits from unknown actors—Linklater a past master at picking faces, types and talent.

New Orleans. Divorced and a bit nerdy, college psychology professor Gary Johnson (Powell) appears content lecturing students and tending his cats until his part-time tech work for the police department takes a twist when he’s dubbed for going undercover for a sting, posing as a hitman. Turns out mild idea broker Mr. Johnson has a gift for impersonation, disguise and deception in a good cause. Twist # 2 occurs when Gary meets disarming suspect ‘Madison Figueroa Masters’ (Arjona, smokin’), who, not unreasonably given her appeal, murks his priorities. Twist #3 triple complicates L’Amour & Order when jealous co-worker cop and consummate creep ‘Jasper’ (Austin Amelio nailing it) opens his own private file on sly fox Gary and sensuous femme fatale Madison.

The real-life Gary (who passed away before production got under way) actually worked in Houston, but Louisiana offered a better deal for the shoot, and the screenplay allows for fiction to finesse fact, but it’s all for the better in terms of entertainment and as a showpiece for both the director’s flair for keenly observed character portraits and his star’s ability to morph into different types with guileful ease and likability.

Linklater & crew polished their package for a trim $8,800,000. Theater receipts snipped $1,916,000, then Netflix revenues ensued. Based off an article about Johnson (1947-2022) written by Skip Hollandsworth.  With Retta, Sanjay Rao, Evan Holtzman, Molly Bernard and Mike Markoff. 115 minutes.

* We took notice of Powell as one of the brighter points in Everybody Wants Some!!, Linklater’s just-okay sequel to Dazed And Confused and again as a smug hotshot in Top Gun: Maverick, 2022s #1 box office hit.