The Big Hit (1998)

41% of critics liked it
(39 reviews)
59% of users liked it
(28,878 ratings)

Kirk Wong directed this comedy actioner about mild-mannered, beleaguered hitman Melvin Smiley (Mark Wahlberg), who very much wants to be liked. However, the naive Mel is being taken advantage of by both his girlfriends and associates (who cheat him out of his bonuses). Mel and his "Odd Squad" --… More Kirk Wong directed this comedy actioner about mild-mannered, beleaguered hitman Melvin Smiley (Mark Wahlberg), who very much wants to be liked. However, the naive Mel is being taken advantage of by both his girlfriends and associates (who cheat him out of his bonuses). Mel and his "Odd Squad" -- Cisco (Lou Diamond Phillips), Crunch (Bokeem Woodbine), Vince (Antonio Sabato Jr.), and Gump (Robin Dunne) -- work for Paris (Avery Brooks), head of an international crime cartel and a contractor for hit jobs. Mel's mistress Chantel (Lela Rochon), who views him as a meal ticket, lives rent-free in his house, misspends his money, and is continually thinking of ways to get more from him. Her latest scheme is concocting tales about overdue mortgage and car payments, but she really wants the money to run away with her lover Sergio. Mel and his team head into a big shootout to waste some rival mobsters. One person kills the electricity; the others don night-vision goggles. Melvin handles most of the action, including shooting while bungee-bouncing near a staircase, finally making a spectacular bungee-exit from the top floors of the building just as it explodes in flames. A quick and easy weekend job backfires when their kidnap victim, a rich industrialist's teenage daughter Keiko Nishi (China Chow), turns out to be the godchild of their boss, crime czar Paris. When Cisco, mastermind of the plan, is summoned by Paris, he manages to shift blame to Mel. Meanwhile, Chantel absconds with Mel's earnings just as the disapproving parents (Elliott Gould, Lainie Kazan) of Mel's fiancee Pam (Christina Applegate) are due for a visit. Since Pam gave her parents $50,000 from Mel's bank account, they're on their way to thank him and hopefully benefit from another financial windfall. As his professional and domestic woes collide, Mel finds himself dodging bullets while trying to impress his potential in-laws. Throw in an overzealous video-store clerk demanding the return of an overdue tape (King Kong Returns), and it's not long before Mel's life starts to unravel. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 27 min.
Directed By: Kirk Wong
Written By: Ben Ramsey
Genres: Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Apr 24, 1998 Wide
On DVD: Mar 6, 2001
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Jack Mathews, Los Angeles Times
The Big Hit is nothing more, or less, than a big goof.
Susan Stark, Detroit News
...crude and bloody but effective action comedy...
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
As low- intelligence entertainment goes, this film is very much a hit-and-miss affair.
Jay Carr, Boston Globe
In its non-A-list way, The Big Hit is the most successful attempt yet to transfer the Hong Kong action movie to Hollywood.
Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle
Score it big-time inane but a load of fun.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The characters in these movies exist in a Twilight Zone where thousands of rounds of ammunition are fired, but no one ever gets shot unless the plot requires him to. The bullets have read the screenplay.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
The script, by rookie writer Ben Ramsey, is among the most disgraceful screenplays ever to be produced by a major studio.
James Plath, Movie Metropolis
I don't know who coined the term 'popcorn movie,' but that's the best way to describe The Big Hit.
Blake French, Filmcritic.com
The Big Hit should be titled The Big Miss. That?s a really bad pun, but it?s better than anything in this movie.
Jeffrey Westhoff, Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)
This frantic black comedy is one long obscure joke.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
If you often find yourself defending the types of movies offered by Jerry Bruckheimer and Joel Silver, here's an affably dumb little action/comedy that should easily hold your attention.
, Film Threat
...a confused mess...
Margaret A. McGurk, Cincinnati Enquirer
Aside from everything else it does, The Big Hit proves that any subject matter can be funny, in the right hands.
Wade Major, Boxoffice Magazine
Unfortunately, despite a promising premise, the film never manages to be much more than an adolescent exercise in caricatures, so inappropriately broad in its humor that it almost makes Airplane look like a documentary.

Read all 14 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Aaron N

Melvin: The truth is, I can't handle the idea of her not liking me. I can't handle the idea of ANYBODY not liking me. Cisco: Hey Melvin, the hundred or so people you've killed in the last five years, more than likely have families that don't think too highly of… More
Melvin: The truth is, I can't handle the idea of her not liking me. I can't handle the idea of ANYBODY not liking me. Cisco: Hey Melvin, the hundred or so people you've killed in the last five years, more than likely have families that don't think too highly of you. I Always have fun watching this movie, a hit-man comedy that is self-aware, never taking itself seriously, and full of some cool action. Mark Wahlberg is a "nice" hitman, who just wants everyone to be copacetic. He has money problems due to his fiance and his bloodsucking girlfriend. Other subplots involving the discovery of masturbation, acceptance of different religions, and kidnapping, what a joy. The action scenes go back and forth between very cool and ridiculously over the top. More random humor to follow as well (all signs point to the tracebuster-buster). Cisco: Well ain't that a bitch... All I wanted to do was to sail my boat, man, you know? Navigate by the stars, see dolphins race alongside, you know, maybe even kill a few of them. The cast also includes Lou Diamond Phillips, Christina Applegate, Avery Brooks, and Elliot Gould, further fueliing the absurdity. Paris: What would you do to someone, who was fucking with you in your own house? Cisco: I'd bust some caps! My absolute favorite Guilty Pleasure movie, even more so than Starship Troopers. Melvin Smiley: Technically, you can call me a hitman. Keiko Nishi: Really? A hitman? Does that pay well? Melvin Smiley: Oh of course. I make a killing.
Tsubaki S

Hollywood failing once more in trying to replicate Hong Kong action/crime flicks.
Khris N

Hey Hey! Now that Ive FINALLY got the DVD, I can do a proper review! Man, they dont make them like they used to. All the overblown, adrenalin charged action scenes, the grace and beauty not just in the choreography but in the number of bullets and explosions one can throw in.… More
Hey Hey! Now that Ive FINALLY got the DVD, I can do a proper review! Man, they dont make them like they used to. All the overblown, adrenalin charged action scenes, the grace and beauty not just in the choreography but in the number of bullets and explosions one can throw in. Those were the good ole days, and along with movies like Face Off, Broken Arrow and Replacement Killers, this sorta ventures into the Action/Comedy zone, and does pretty well, I loved it. I guess this is the movie which bought Mark Wahlberg into the action genre, playing the too nice hit man, in contrast to the devilish Lou Diamond Phillips, who was hilarious as the out of control killer. Aside from the director Kirk Wong (Crime Story), the movie was produced by John Woo and Wesley Snipes, so the action shines, and not too much fancy pants stuff, just some slick moves and fight scenes and interesting comedy moments, some which were stolen from other movies, but of course, who gives a F? im having too much fun watching it. And for all action/Hong Kong style fans, so would you.
Justin Y

An explosive comedy. Well, it isn't all that explosive, at least by today's standards, but it is pretty hilarious.The story isn't all that great and it is fairly stupid at times. But, it is this story that sets up the comedic elements for this film. This is… More
An explosive comedy. Well, it isn't all that explosive, at least by today's standards, but it is pretty hilarious.The story isn't all that great and it is fairly stupid at times. But, it is this story that sets up the comedic elements for this film. This is one of those films where it's on the borderline between being a comedy or being a serious action flick. Unfortunately, this film has just a little too much ridiculous comedy that takes away from the seriousness of this film. This movie would have definitely benefited more from being an action adventure rather than a comedy.The acting is OK at best and I think it is due to the fact that there are a little too many characters for a short 90 minute film. This is one of the earlier films of Mark Wahlberg and you can see that his acting isn't as mature as his latter movies like The Italian Job. I would love to say that the star of the show is China Chow because she is damn beautiful, but the real show stealer is Lou Diamond Phillips. He portrays his character nicely and his performance is memorable. One of his greatest roles. Another thing about this film is that they market this film at having Antonio Sabato Jr. as one of the co-stars. Well, he is in the film for the first 15 minutes then he disappears. Do not watch this film if you just want to see him.The action in this film comes in the beginning and the end and it is pretty explosive and entertaining for this type of movie. There are lots of shootings and explosions to go around.Give this film a try if you want to see a comedic action film. Just don't take it seriously because this is The Big Hit, not The Big Lebowski.
Michael S

A lot of fun.
Dean M

Dumb, but fun action-comedy with the cast, outrageous stunts and car chases.
Jason S

It was ok.
danny d

entertaining, mark wahlberg was great
Lesley N

Wimpy yet macho hit man Mark Wahlberg is put upon by all and sundry because he just wants to be liked, until kidnapped Japanese girl helps him cook dinner. Something like that. Lots of likeable, implausible action scenes offset by lots of unlikeable, duplicitous characters. Marky Mark… More
Wimpy yet macho hit man Mark Wahlberg is put upon by all and sundry because he just wants to be liked, until kidnapped Japanese girl helps him cook dinner. Something like that. Lots of likeable, implausible action scenes offset by lots of unlikeable, duplicitous characters. Marky Mark sure was fit in them days though.
Erin C

Awful. And I love Mark Wahlberg and Christina Applegate.
Doctor S

I used to be a resolutely stubborn movie watcher: if I started one, I finished it, no matter how bad, boring, or disgusting. I have since learned better not to waste precious time and occasionally will dump a movie in the middle like it was Jennifer Aniston. This movie was the… More
I used to be a resolutely stubborn movie watcher: if I started one, I finished it, no matter how bad, boring, or disgusting. I have since learned better not to waste precious time and occasionally will dump a movie in the middle like it was Jennifer Aniston. This movie was the back-breaker where after 20 years I consciously pressed the 'Stop' button midway and never went back. Maybe on another day I would get into its violent comedic mood swings, but at the time it felt like another overly smug, not overly clever Pulp Fiction wannabe. Who needs another one of those? Well done, Doctor S. [pats self on back]
Sean S

A lot of fun. LDP really shines in this one as a guy who backstabs his way through life so he can afford a boat to blow up dolphins.
Chosen 7

Very entertaining, great action-comedy.
Krystle C

The Big Hit is ridiculous in the extreme, but that is surely part of its appeal - it's so completely over-the-top that you can't help but wonder if it's sending up the assassin movies it loosely resembles. There are moments of pure gold in this movie; in particular,… More
The Big Hit is ridiculous in the extreme, but that is surely part of its appeal - it's so completely over-the-top that you can't help but wonder if it's sending up the assassin movies it loosely resembles. There are moments of pure gold in this movie; in particular, Lou Diamond Phillips's cheesy loser sidekick-turned-maniacal villain is priceless with his wacky facial expressions and that shirt! ("I'm pretty sure he's still alive" *shoots dead guy with weird expression and hand motions haha*) He's pretty consistently hilarious throughout this movie, even when he's being evil, although there is one oddly jarring moment which injects itself in the midst of the hilarious over-the-topness and kind of ruins the moment. Regardless, his high-jinks and goofball craziness are definitely the highlight of the movie, despite the rather clumsy attempt to make his character more sinister. Mark Wahlberg plays doormat/star hitman Melvin Smiley to a T; you can't help but feel sorry for the guy, and even his name fits. The opening hit scene is improbable but made absolutely hysterical by Wahlberg's breakdancing/shooting moves - I mean, talk about an efficient way to assassinate someone eh? But we've already established that we're not watching this movie for its plausibility. In fact, the entire cast of characters is a hilarious caricature, from the overtly Jewish girlfriend to the overdramatic boss man, which works really well - with the disappointing exception of the romantic thread with China Chow's Keiko character. I guess you have to throw it in there, and the movie manages to insert some moments of levity and ridiculousness in their hooking-up scenes (esp. the awesome chicken-stuffing bit!), but it's uneven and feels forced. Nonetheless, the Big Hit is a LOT of fun, and a great movie to just laugh at and turn your brain off for. It doesn't try to make any huge inspiring statements or be too clever, and therein lies part of its goofy charm.
Kevin M

Phillips + ACTing thuggish = poor performance. Wahlberg + not ACTing thuggish = fantastic performance.