The Hitman (1991)

This movie doesn't stand out all that much. The only reason I watched it was because I thought that it might be interesting, and though the action was good, there was nothing to make it stand out above and beyond other movies.Basically Chuck Norris is a cop who is betrayed by his friend and shot. He manages to survive but his commander makes him an undercover agent, says that he is still dead, and sends Chuck off. Chuck gets a job as a thug for a mafia boss who is having trouble with the French up north and Iranians moving in onto his territory. After numerous battles, Chuck discovers that his old partner is the boss of the Iranians, and blows him up.As I said, nothing outstanding. In fact it becomes somewhat lame when the thug Chuck takes a small boy into his care whose mother is working three jobs to look after him. He teaches the boy to fight and beats up the bullies' dad, and then gives the boy and his mother a lot of money.All in all, this is a typical dry American action movies where the good guy is too good and the bad guys simply fade away into nothingness.

Now this on has got it right! Everything in it is cool, starting with Chuck's mullet.Like in many of his films, Chuck goes around killing people, in this case a bunch of shady maffiosi and a crew of Muslims.I do not see this film being broadcast in Muslim countries as it contains quite a few very funny islamophobic jokes.One thing that I love with Chuck Norris films is that you know he is going to go around and have a nice time killing people. The fact that it is so predictable gives it all its charm, though it does take away all the suspense. But suspense sucks anyway, we just want explosions and naked chicks! This is a film that you watch for a good laugh and to learn a few good one-liners that you might toss out in a intellectual conversation at your girlfriend's family dinner party.

Chuck Norris once again attempted to expand his range a little with this action/thriller showcasing Norris' ability with a gun as well as his trademark kicks and punches. He plays a cop gone undercover after barely surviving a double-cross from a partner gone dirty. Michael Parks, who is always an interesting actor to watch, plays the dirty partner. While undercover, Norris tries to ferret out what's going on amongst three different ethnic mobs. While the mob action makes little sense, it's a good excuse for lots of gun play, semi-torture, and Norris pushing guys around while trying to play up a domestic side of his character mentoring a young fatherless boy. Norris is better than usual in this film and is usually so when not taking himself or the film he's in too seriously. His acting range is quite limited, and previous efforts of his to expand have backfired due to tired, formulaic scripts that failed to differ from film to film. Even though the film is nothing spectacular, it does contain some good stunt work and great action scenes throughout. Parks is again a heavy, and it's unfortunate he's rarely given a chance to stretch his range. ** of 4 stars.

Given the genre, this movie is excellent. If you're in the mood for a romantic film or a slow foreign flick, skip it: if you're a real man, watch it.Chuck Norris does, as usual, a very good job, but the real key to the movie is the intricate plot. Things keep getting more and more convoluted as the movie proceeds, and the dramatic ending, while foreseeable, is action-packed.A side note: the cinematography, especially the night scenes, is masterful. If you're watching the movie with the lights off, you get the full effect. The use of darkness provides a perfect atmospheric for certain scenes.Great for a night you want to watch a kick-ass man movie.