Why fans are finding Richard Linklater's Hit Man unrealistic, explained

Richard Linklater’s Hit Man, which is loosely based on a true story arrived on Netflix on June 7, 2024. The film, originally released on May 24, 2024, collected only $5.4 million against a budget of $10 million, according to Box Office Mojo.

Even after being a box office bomb, Linklater’s Hit Man managed an IMDb rating of 7/10 and a 96% score on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer. The movie after coming to Netflix held the number one spot for nine days in May.

Fans are finding Richard Linklater's Hit Man unrealistic because of Glen Powell who typically presents himself as a suave guy in his other films. In this film, though, he plays the role of a professor, who is mostly boring and unattractive, which is quite unusual of a character for Powell to play. A fan on Twitter commented on Powell's role in the film and called it unrealistic:

"Hit Man was a fun breezy rom-com drama. Crazy story. Most unrealistic thing is Glen Powell playing an uncharismatic nerdy teacher. C’mon, that guy is Hangman."

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The real reasons behind Fans calling Hit Man unrealistic

Most viewers and Glen Powell fans love Hit Man but are dazed at Powell's role in the film.

He's shown as a professor, who starts working for the police to catch people for attempted murder. Powell, who stars as Gary Johnson in the film, is a fake contract killer for the New Orleans Police. A viewer of the film who is not in favor of the character played by Powell, tweeted:

"Just started Hit Man and I already have a problem with this movie. There’s no way they want me to think that Glen Powell isn’t a Cool Guy."

In the film, Gary is a boring guy and starts this job because he needs the extra money. Fans and viewers do not think that Powell is the right person for this boring yet not-so-boring role. A user tweeted about the same:

"Hit Man is a good film but they're not fooling anyone with the idea that clearly very good-looking Glen Powell is regarded as a dorky loser by his students (wow, you gave him a pair of glasses, he still looks like Glen Powell!)"

In Hit Man, the character of Gary played by Powell has a self and a projected self. His true self before he gets the job as a fake hitman for the police is seen to be dorky and underconfident.

He's seen more as effeminate who lacks intimacy and is convinced that he doesn’t need it. Moreover, he's also divorced.

However, when he plays the role of the fake undercover assassin, we get to see his projected self, where he is not being himself. His entire outlook changes. He's seen to be more confident and is even dressed up to make first impressions. His colleagues like his projected self more than his true self.

In the film when he is confronted and has to react to which self or personality he has to choose at the moment he makes the life-altering decision to make his projected self as his true self. A viewer commented about the character's transformation in the film saying:

"Saw #HitMan last night, and it's the best movie of this year for me. I have never enjoyed a movie this much. Would highly recommend it to everyone. Glen Powell is the next big thing in Hollywood. He was just exceptional in his performance."

Even while everyone watching might noT accept Glen Powell as Gary Johnson, they will still undoubtedly love the movie.

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Is Glen Powell leaving Hollywood?

Glen Powell is leaving Los Angeles and is returning to his family home in Texas. Powell has said that after Top Gun he will not be looking for roles that are ~ Oscar-greedy, franchise movies or Marvel projects. Instead of picking and choosing personalities for himself, he wants to make diverse films and explore a variety of characters.

Actors are supposed to mold themselves and Glen Powell has nailed it in Hit Man. He has also proved to the wider audience that one cannot typecast a character.

Earlier we have seen other actors doing the same. Oppenheimer was tall and American and Cillian Murphy who starred as the titular character in the Oppenheimer is short and Irish, which did not stop him from winning an Oscar and playing a formidable role in the film. Marlon Brando who plays Vito Corleone in Godfather is seen as a ruthless leader in the film. However, in real life, Marlo is an activist.

Even Bryan Cranston who played Walter White in Breaking Bad has done tons of comedy movies and shows like Malcolm in the Middle (2000-2006) and Jerry & Marge Go Large (2022).

It shows how actors are versatile and not stereotypical. In Hit Man, Powell by playing the role of an uncool professor has broken the stertotypical chain of his carrer, which he had created over the years.

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Hit Man is now streaming on Netflix.