Usher Video:

Editorial Review:
Film fans might someday recognize 1997 and '98 as the years Hong Kong came to Hollywood. Stars Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Chow Yun-Fat, Jet Li, and Michelle Yeoh all appeared in major Hollywood projects and directors John Woo, Ronny Yu, and Tsui Hark directed Face/Off, Bride of Chucky, and Knock Off, respectively. Another entry into this new era of entertainment is The Big Hit, directed by Che-Kirk Wong (who also directed Jackie Chan in Crime Story), executive produced by John Woo, and produced by Wesley Snipes. Mark Wahlberg leads this all-American cast in a played-for-laughs macho blowout. Rounding out the testosterone brigade are Lou Diamond Phillips (sprouting a gold-capped tooth and a dirty mouth), Bokeem Woodbine (who, according to this DVD's director audio track, wore extra socks where it counts), Antonio Sabàto Jr., and Avery Brooks. Wahlberg plays Melvin Smiley, a nice-guy hit man with an ulcer and a severe insecurity problem. He's short on cash due to the spending habits of his unsuspecting fiancée Pam (Christina Applegate) and his girlfriend-on-the-sly Chantel (Lela Rochon). He and his crew decide to do a little freelancing and cook up their own heist to make a little mo' money--specifically by kidnapping Keiko (China Chow), the daughter of a Japanese businessman whom they target for ransom. Little do they know her dad is broke and she's the goddaughter of their boss. The Big Hit has action scenes aplenty (one of the stunt coordinators worked on Woo's The Killer and Bullet in the Head) and the same cornball sense of humor as other films in the Hong Kong action genre. Slick pacing and over-the-top humor made this movie a miss with the critics but a fun ride for fans of Hong Kong-styled action. --Shannon Gee

The Big Hit [Region 2] Reviews:
See, Dirk Diggler works for Captain Sisko and is dating Kelly Bundy...
2008-12-30 - The Big Hit (1998) Poor Mark Wahlberg. He just wants everyone to like him, but when you're a contract killer with a money grubbing fiancee (Christina Applegate), a greedy girlfriend (Lela Rochon), a tough no-nonsense boss (Avery Brooks) and a weaselly coworker (Lou Diamond Phillips) who'd sell his mom for a quick buck, you're not likely to find yourself a happy man. So goes the plot of this goofy action comedy from the producers of Broken Arrow. Though the script to this is at times amusing, with assassins who pause in the middle of a hit for a coffee break, and Wahlberg forced to extreme slapstick measures to keep a kidnap victim he's been stuck with hidden from his fiancee and her stereotypical Jewish parents (Lainie Kazan and Elliot Gould), it also gets smug in its attempts to be hip, which works against the movie as a whole. Also, it's lucky this is a comedy, because while there is some good stuntwork involved, too many scenes are cartoonishly computer assisted to be taken seriously at all. If you see this in the right frame of mind it would probably tickle you, but if not it'll more likely annoy you. If you do see it, you will have to give Lou Diamond Phillips some points for pulling out all the stops as the flamboyantly flaky Chico. But if the premise seems shaky to you, you should probably avoid this one. Also starring Antonio Sabato Jr.

Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch
2008-11-04 - This funky bunch is better than his first funky bunch and this movie is hilarious and should be seen by any fan of Mr. Wahlberg.

Lou Diamond and the other two give a pretty standard performance for their careers. OWN IT!!!

Mark Wahlberg's first great film
2008-10-30 - Simply stated, a funny movie with some pretty good action and alot of great b-movie stars. Mark Wahlberg was small time when this movie came out in 1998. With the exception of Boogie Nights, which I did not care for, this was Wahlberg's first great movie. Add this to your collection for sure.

funny
2008-08-25 - mark wahlberg is so funny and great in this movie, i wish it was appreciated more

Action and comedy at it's best
2008-03-25 - The Big Hit is exactly what it intends to be a action comedy. Mark Wahlbeg shows his action star staus for the first time in this movie and the action sequences by Kirk Wong were some of the best in 1998. Lou Diamond Phillps and Bookem Woodbine provide great one liners in a very good film. .