I actually got to know about this film through TikTok. Someone used audio from a scene in the movie for a reenactment, the kidnapping scene where the girl, Keiko, is asked to read out what the kidnappers are supposed to send to her dad. The reenactment was hilarious but also weirdly charming, so naturally I ran to the comments to ask what movie the audio was from and thankfully, someone dropped the title, I looked it up and next thing I knew, I was glued until the credits rolled.
The film being from 1998 didn’t discourage me at all actually. If anything, I was too confident. I have this belief that movies from that era usually had solid storylines and didn’t rely on noise or overcomplicated plots to keep your attention. Plus, there was something funny about going back to a time when my mom hadn’t even thought about having me yet.😭 Not a bad way to spend a movie night.
Synopsis
This film stars Mark Wahlberg as Melvin Smiley, a hitman who’s oddly polite, overly considerate and constantly anxious about pleasing everyone which includes his fiancee, his secret girlfriend, his boss, and even the people he’s supposed to kill. That contrast alone already makes the movie entertaining. He’s supposed to be dangerous, but half the time he looks like he needs a nap and a therapist.
The plot centers on a kidnapping that’s meant to make Melvin and his friends easy money, but of course, nothing stays simple. The kidnapped girl, Keiko Nishi (China Chow), ends up being way more composed and self-aware than anyone expects, which makes those scenes unintentionally funny. There’s also something absurdly hilarious about how calm she is while surrounded by criminals who are clearly more stressed than she is.
What really carries the movie is its tone. It doesn’t take itself seriously at all, it leans into chaos, exaggerated violence, awkward humor, and fast-paced action that feels very late-90s in the best way. Don’t ask me how I know. The gunfights are loud, flashy and absolutely ridiculous. The dialogue is sharp and sometimes corny, but that’s part of the charm yunno. You can tell the movie knows exactly what it is and isn’t trying to be anything deeper.
If you ask me if this film is realistic, I will say absolutely not. But on the bright side, that’s the point. It’s a stylish, over-the-top action comedy that just wants to entertain you, and honestly, it succeeded in doing that for me. There’s betrayal, misunderstandings, messy friendships and a lot of men making bad decisions while trying to look cool.
By the end, I found myself smiling more than I expected. I am not saying this is a perfect movie, but it’s confident, has a nice storyline and chaotic fun. Sometimes, all a movie has to do is keep you entertained, and this one did exactly that.
Rating: 7.5/10
I do recommend to people who are prolly fans of late-90s action comedies and anyone else who enjoys chaotic plots and absurd humor and to viewers tired of overly polished modern action films.