The Big Hit (1998)

The Big Hit (1998)




Synopsis

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.

What Critics Say


No Hollywood.com review at this time
Spill.com puts a whole new spin on the "classic" movie review; turning dorky and dry into hilarious and hip. Spill's reviews are high-quality animated videos featuring a regular cast of comic personalities.

Movie News

  • The CW Renews All Its Big Hits, Of Course

    America's Next Top Model, Gossip Girl, Vampire Diaries and more returning. Oh joy.


  • Ledger's Last Film Not a Big Hit with Critics

    Heath Ledger's final film has been given a lukewarm reception at the Cannes Film Festival -- and many critics were shocked to see his character hanging from a London bridge with a rope around his neck in his first scene.


  • HBO's Next Big Hit? (Finally?)

    Production is under way on HBO’s upcoming comedy series Eastbound and Down, which, on paper, would seem to be the network’s next big hit.


  • U.K. media shares take a big hit

    Shares in British media companies took a beating Thursday as they issued new warnings that some advertisers are pulling back and others, particularly dot-com firms, are disintegrating.



Rovi Data Solutions, Inc. - Portions of Content Provided by Rovi Data Solutions © 2009 Rovi Data Solutions, Inc.

Advertisement

Create a Fan Site
Are you a The Big Hit (1998) superfan? Create your own fan site on Hollywood.com Click Here!
Advertisement

Whats on Hollywood.com

Actors 302,663

Photos 461,693

Videos 12,839

Fan Pages 128,090

Reviews 2,466

Trailers 5,117

TV 129,006

Movies 269,416




Isn't It Time You Went Hollywood ®
©1999-2012 Hollywood.com, LLC