Hello folks,,, I have built my small online following through luke-warm sports takes and slightly above-average gambling picks. However, many people who follow me will know that I am a massive reel-head as well. I average a trip to the movie theater about once a week and try to see as many new movies as possible.

I decided to try to branch off a little bit into creating some content around those cinema visits. I started a Letterboxd account, which is incredibly addicting, but I want to also write some longer-form reviews here on the blog. So, going forward I am going to try my best to blog a review for every new movie I see, starting here with Richard Linklater’s Hit Man, starring Glen Powell.

This is a NON-SPOILER review:

Hit Man: ★★★★½

This movie was an absolute blast. I went into it with decent expectations as a fan of both Linklater and Glen Powell’s work. Particularly, their work together in Everybody Wants Some!! is one of my favorite movies to rewatch so I had confidence in the two of them bringing out the best in each other.

Not only did this not disappoint, it totally exceeded my expectations. The trailer for this movie did a great job of setting up the general concept/vibe of this movie but the story ended up being way more compelling than the trailer made it appear. I expected this to be another classic Linklater “just here for the vibes” movie but I was enthralled by the story and couldn’t wait to see what would happen next.

To no one’s surprise, the comedy in this movie was great. Glen Powell is hilarious and it should be surprising to nobody that Linklater wrote a funny script. It honestly bums me out that this movie is not getting a full theatrical release. I saw it in an 80% full theater of all different ages and genders and everyone was loving it. The whole theater was cracking up throughout the movie and having a blast.

I’m sure this movie will get a ton of run on Netflix from the general public because it has Glen Powell and will have some momentum after so many positive reviews. It’s great a lot of people will watch this on Netflix that wouldn’t normally go to the theater, but this movie was made for the theaters. If you live in a city where this is playing, please go see it.

Finally, the chemistry between Glen Powell and Adria Arjona was off the charts. We just saw Glen Powell in a rom-com earlier this year alongside Sydney Sweeney and it was reasonably enjoyable for a cookie-cutter rom-com. I thought the chemistry between Powell and Sweeney was decent but nothing special. However, after watching this movie, Glen Powell and Syndey Sweeney might actually hate each other. Not actually, but the chemistry between Powell and Arjona made the chemistry between Powell and Sweeney look like an elementary school crush.

This movie was very horny at times, in a tasteful way, but you could seriously feel the passion radiating off of our main couple. Arjona had been in some,,, not great stuff,,, up to this point in her career but I am now all in. She had incredible charisma and played her role to perfection.

But let’s get into Glen Powell… I seriously believe this guy is the movie star of the future (and the present I guess). He has been tabbed by Denzel Washington and Tom Cruise which is usually a good sign…

Also, this Tom Cruise-Glen Powell story is hilarious and Tom Cruise is an absolute maniac.

Glen Powell really has it all. In basically everything he has been in, he proves that his charisma and “movie star charm” are undoubtable. In the more serious moments of both Hit Man and Top Gun: Maverick he shows that he has serious acting chops. Also, between Hit Man and Everybody Wants Some he shows that he has great comedy chops as well.

Early on in his career, he is almost like Matthew McConaughey but even a step ahead. There is obviously the Texas and Linklater connections that make it an easy comparison but I think it’s real. Yeah, movies like Anyone But You are kind of dumb and vapid like some of McConaughey’s early rom-coms, but the charisma and abilities of the star really jump off the page at you.

I say that Powell is a step ahead of where McConaughey was at that time because McConaughey was totally typecast into that rom-com role. Powell has already stepped out with Top Gun: Maverick in a legit action role and even here in Hit Man he gets to play a much more dynamic role than your standard rom-com.

I have full faith in Glen Powell continuing to churn out fun movies like Hit Man, real action blockbusters like Top Gun: Maverick and the upcoming Twisters, as well as silly rom-coms like Anyone But You. And if he one day gets his McConaughey Dallas Buyers Club break that leads to him getting an Oscar nomination, or even win, I wouldn’t be surprised in the least.

All of that being said, if you have the chance, go see Hit Man in theaters. It has everything you could want in a movie-going experience and could be good solo, with a date, with friends, family, anybody would enjoy this. If you must, wait and watch it on Netflix. It’s better than nothing at all.

Finally, I leave you with this… all pie is good pie.