The Big Hit Movie Review 1998

Combustible mixture of extravagent stunts, cartoon violence, hip-hop soundtrack, and a colorful cast serve up an intermittently funny look at organized crime. When not executing their skills as ruthless hitmen, Melvin, Cisco, Vince, and Crunch (Wahlberg, Phillips, Sabato, Jr., and Woodbine) are regular working Joes with regular problems. For Melvin, financial and female problems force him to partner with Cisco in the kidnapping of a Chinese heiress. Said heiress turns out to be the goddaughter of their own crime boss. Much hilarity ensues. Phillips brings gusto to his flamboyant homeboy character and Wahlberg is his equal as the sappy gun for hire with a heart of gold. Big plot holes and fickle storyline, but bigger laughs make you not care so much. American directorial debut of Hong Kong import Che-Kirk Wong.

Distribution

Sony Pictures Home Video, Sony Pictures Plz., 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232, Phone: (310)244-7306, Fax: (310)280-2485, URL: http://www.spe.sony.com, Remarks: Formerly Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 91 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Tale of the Tape, Hit Men/Women, Kidnapped!, Organized Crime, Otherwise Engaged, The Wrong Man

Screenplay

Ben Ramsey

Cast

Mark Wahlberg, Lou Diamond Phillips, Bokeem Woodbine, Antonio Sabato, Christina Applegate, Avery Brooks, China Chow, Lainie Kazan, Elliott Gould, Lela Rochon, Sab Shimono

Cinematography

Danny Nowak

Director

Kirk Wong

Music

Graeme Revell

Producer

Warren Zide, Wesley Snipes, Amen Ra, Lion Rock, TriStar Pictures