#119 – The Big Hit – 2D Movie Night

Movie Hitmen,

Last night we watched a time capsule of weird late 90’s fashion coated in a weird coating of bizarre comedy. I think I saw this movie in theaters, it was released during the time when I was literally seeing every single movie that was released. I remember feeling a weird feeling… is this good? Is this incredibly bad? I had no idea! It was just confounding
So what was the conclusion with an additional 22 years of movie watching experience? I still have no idea.

There are parts that are great and funny but there are also parts that are just weird. The relationship between the hitmen is confusing, they seem to be Zoolanders Entourage with guns. Which has to be on purpose, you don’t cast Antonio Sabato Jr in a role for his acting abilities. They are just so happy go lucky with their boondock saints routine that it kind of throws to movie off. You are never sure what is supposed to be serious.

The worst part might be the main concept of the film, that Mark Wahlberg is a really nice guy who just can’t say no to anyone. working for free, taking less money, giving money to his girlfriend, giving money to his fiance’s parents, letting the video store. Not to mention Marky Marks personal life, but I just don’t buy his acting.

Unlike most Movie Night movies this one actually gets better as it goes on. I feel like the second half of the movie actually is good and funny. Nothing is perfect but there are some solid visual jokes and some funny concepts.

Solid Funny things that might be funnier to talk about than to watch.

One of the hitmen just discovering jerking off and it taking over his life
Trace Buster Buster vs Trace Buster Buster Buster
Japanese Dad about to commit seppuku keeps getting interrupted by phone calls.
Japanese guy going broke self financing the most expensive movie ever made.
that movie being called “taste the golden spray”
Everytime someone gets shot they fly 100 feet backwards
Hitman being hounded by a video store employee for not returning “King Kong Lives”
The most sensual samonella chicken rubdown in movie history
45 random thug hitmen arriving in 3 identical 1993 grey Chrystler Windstar minivans
The ending action chase is really good and all the threads started earlier in the movie come together so you need all that boring shit to make it funnier.

Conclusion!

I kind of like this movie, I don’t think it elevates to classic status. But it is one of those movies that once everyone has seen it it becomes funny to reference. But it is the #1 place to oggle late 20’s Hollywood BEEF. Christina Applegate may be in her prime here, but she is clearly 2nd fiddle to the man meat in this movie.

We had another issue with twoseven in that Ivy could only listen to the movie and everyone else had sync issues until I fixed that in the room settings. Since we already have the discord channel set up, we might try to watch the movie on there next week. I might try to watch a little something during the week on there as a test, so look out for that.
Also the soundtrack is filled with 90’s jams.

Facts.

The Big Hit was shot for the relatively low budget of $13 million and was produced by film partners John Woo, Terence Chang, and Wesley Snipes.^[3]
The film debuted at #1 at the box office.^[4] It went on to gross $27.0 million domestically.
Remarked Roger Ebert, “I guess you could laugh at this. You would have to be seriously alienated from normal human values and be nursing a deep-seated anger against movies that make you think even a little, but you could laugh.”^[6]
43% on Rotten Tomatoes