THE BIG HIT

With the success of PULP FICTION, the idea of the hitman as comedian came into full fashion. Featuring a multi-racial cast and rising star Mark Wahlberg, THE BIG HIT is a funk music-filled, obscenity-filled and violence-filled thrill ride about an emotionally codependent hitman who moonlights on the side and becomes involved in a hit with surprising repercussions.

The hitmen in this story are no solitary secretive characters. They clock in and clock out and want bonuses. They talk about vacations and retirement. They want to be seen as regular guys, except they kill people. The mild-mannered Mel Smiley (Mark Wahlberg) is the leader of the group. He repeats, “I can’t stand the idea of anyone not liking me.” While trying to kill people, he is bending over backwards to try to please the people in his life. This allows his friends and lovers to take advantage of him.

Mel’s mistress Chantel (Lela Rochon) sees him as little more than a meal ticket. She squanders his money and is continually thinking of ways to get more money out of him. She concocts a tale about overdue mortgage and car payments so that she can run away with her lover, Sergio. Mel’s fiancee Pam (Christina Applegate) gave her parents $50,000 from his bank account. They are thankful to Mel and go to visit him personally.

Mel learns to please himself and trust his companions when they take an assignment to kidnap the god-daughter of their employer. When their employer finds out about this mess, the band of misfits fights back. All of this happens when Pam’s parents are paying a visit.

With a cool funk soundtrack and cliché filled dialogue, THE BIG HIT is an intentionally cheesy look at the worst of LA. THE BIG HIT has no redeeming elements. Filled with violence and mayhem, it is a bloodfest and ranks in action and dialogue at or below the B-level Van Damme vehicles. Though Wahlberg entrenches himself as a shady character actor, Lou Diamond Philips does nothing to add to his lackluster career in this forgettable role. Christina Applegate, likewise, has chosen a sleazy role in her infrequent big screen appearances. She is little more than a shrill Kelly Bundy.

With a Jewish fiancee, a black mistress, Hispanic partners, and an Asian victim, THE BIG HIT is a melting pot of actors attempting to find as much crossover appeal as possible. In the final analysis, this movie has overkill aplenty, numbing the senses with violence, obscenities and stupid lines. Furthermore, it is underscored with a great deal of sexual talk.