The Big Hit (1998)

Director:

Kirk Wong

Writer (WGA):

Ben Ramsey (written by)

Release Date:

24 April 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

Hit Happens

Plot:

Melvin Smiley, a successful young hitman, is living a normal all-day life for his jewish fiancé Pam...

Plot Keywords:

Hitman | Kosher | Kidnapping | Severed Finger | Bomb

Cast

Mark Wahlberg	...	Melvin Smiley
Lou Diamond Phillips	...	Cisco
Christina Applegate	...	Pam Shulman
Avery Brooks	...	Paris
Bokeem Woodbine	...	Crunch
Antonio Sabato Jr.	...	Vince
China Chow	...	Keiko Nishi
Lainie Kazan	...	Jeanne Shulman
Elliott Gould	...	Morton Shulman
Sab Shimono	...	Jiro Nishi
Robin Dunne	...	Gump
Lela Rochon	...	Chantel
Danny Smith	...	Video Store Kid
Joshua Peace	...	Lance
David Usher	...	Sergio

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, pervasive language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby SR

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:R (Manitoba) | Philippines:R-18 | Germany:16 (cut) | New Zealand:R16 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-16 (video premiere) | France:U | Germany:18 | Mexico:C | Netherlands:16 | Norway:18 | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | USA:R (certificate #35552) | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Hong Kong:III

Filming Locations:

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Company:

TriStar Pictures

Trivia:

When Gump (Robin Dunne) is busted by the Trace-Buster-Buster-Buster, the name that is listed on his criminal record is Eric S. Potechin, the name of the second assistant director.

Goofs:

Continuity: Keiko's hair clip disappears while she and Melvin are cooking, and reappears in the next scene.

Quotes:

Melvin: Understand this, okay? I absolutely, positively cannot be the only person falling head over heels in love in this relationship. It's got to be mutual.

Movie Connections:

References Stuck on You! (1983)

Soundtrack:

Don't Sleep

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

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.