Hit Man review: Bonkers real-life crime caper hits the target

Powell is Gary Johnson, a mild-mannered philosophy professor who tries to convince his students that he has this life lark figured out. He doesn’t, but his other job is cooler.

Gary supplements his income by providing tech assistance to the New Orleans Police Department. One day, they ask him to pose as an undercover hit man. It’ll be his job to meet with suspects looking to hire someone to kill someone else. If Gary successfully lands a killer offer, the real officers will swoop in and take care of the rest. Easy.

Gary is a natural performer, and he enjoys the gig, but it all begins to fall apart after he develops feelings for one of his suspects (Adria Arjona’s Madison).

Linklater’s film, co-written by Powell, takes its cue from a bonkers real-life tale. All the fun stuff is completely made up, but does that matter? Hardly. Never let the truth get in the way of a good story, and Hit Man – a fabulous caper, funny and smart – is up there with the best of them. It should have received a cinema release.

Four stars