Mark Wahlberg’s Film ‘The Big Hit’ Was a Failure With Roger Ebert

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  • Mark Wahlberg Leads a Team of Assassins in ‘The Big Hit‘
  • ‘The Big Hit’ Mixes Action and Comedy
  • ‘The Big Hit’ Came a Little Too Late

There’s much knowledge to be gained from Roger Ebert’s film reviews. Some people even view his four-star rating system as something akin to a cinematic holy scripture. Given that he was the first film critic to receive a Pulitzer Prize and has analyzed over 10,000 films throughout his career – whether they were utter disasters or masterpieces – it’s not hard to see why this might be true. Although he made an effort to avoid truly dreadful movies (the ones he gave no stars; there were fewer than 50 of these), there were many more that he allowed to barely stay afloat above the depths of the cinematic chasm, receiving a score of one instead.

It’s hard to believe that the same Mark Wahlberg, who had just achieved a perfect score with Boogie Nights in 1997, would be involved in a film receiving such a low and concerning rating only a year later. The transformation was quite dramatic, from playing a role in a critically acclaimed drama about the adult film industry to starring in a stylized action comedy that bore similarities to films by John Woo and Quentin Tarantino. In just 12 months, he went from a four-star rating to a one-star rating. Was The Big Hit in 1998 truly that awful, or was it perhaps a case of the cultural crossover being lost on everyone?

Mark Wahlberg Leads a Team of Assassins in ‘The Big Hit’

In his review for Boogie Nights, Ebert described it as an “epic tale from the underbelly of Hollywood.” Conversely, in his review for The Big Hit, he suggested that rather than bringing over individual movie stars or filmmakers, this film represents a complete appropriation of the Hong Kong-style action genre by Hollywood. While there are numerous scenes filled with gunfire, a character gets hit only when necessary to advance the plot, as you pointed out.

The film directed by Kirk Wong initiates with a chaotic shootout in which our primary team miraculously escapes harm, culminating in an explosion at a penthouse – naturally, the initial antagonists are eliminated. However, the assassination squad consisting of Mark Wahlberg, Lou Diamond Phillips, Bokeem Woodbine, Antonio Sabàto Jr., and Robin Dunne subsequently behaves more like a bumbling, awkward, and somewhat disorganized group of subpar hitmen. It’s hard to believe they’ve progressed this far given their behavior. Clearly, Ebert found the blend of intense action sequences and crass-talking old friends less than appealing.

‘The Big Hit’ Mixes Action and Comedy

When examining his critique of The Big Hit alongside his review of another action movie from the mid to late ’90s, Bad Boys, some shared preferences become apparent. He consistently highlights the plot devices where the main characters invariably have an advantage, and he notes repetition in both reviews. It seems that excessive explosions are more of a pet peeve than an enjoyable aspect, leading us to ponder if all action movies should strive for sophistication or if constant evolution is required to maintain a favorable image. Despite The Big Hit’s overly cheesy feel and dialogue reminiscent of a high school writing class, these very characteristics are often praised by those who appreciate the movie.

Instead of analyzing “The Big Hit” movie, consider its elements humorously. For instance, the name trace buster buster clearly mocks another device. Despite Melvin Smiley (portrayed by Wahlberg) performing most tasks, his accomplices are stationed outside the chaotic hotel room, seemingly enjoying cups of coffee. The question of how they got those cups remains unanswered, but this kind of slapstick comedy is what has reviewers describing it as “zany,” “absurd,” or even “cartoonish” in their positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.

‘The Big Hit’ Came a Little Too Late

In the case of Sony (the company responsible for distributing The Big Hit), there wasn’t any attempt to deceive anyone. The original trailers for the film, which you can still find on platforms like YouTube, were not altered in any way to conceal the movie’s distinctive humor. Instead, the comedic aspect was emphasized extensively. Now, considering the film’s thematic context, would it be harmonious if the unconventional heroes faced severe injuries? This could potentially disrupt the tone, causing the pace of the movie to slow significantly. Given that Mark Wahlberg was predominantly known for his roles in comedies, dramas, and even a psychological thriller from 1994 to 1997 (with the exception of The Big Hit, which was his first action movie), it’s interesting to ponder how such injuries would have impacted the storyline.

Thankfully, renowned film critic Leonard Maltin offered the movie a fresh perspective years later through a favorable review, but by then, it was already too late. Unfortunately, Wahlberg experienced a downfall in his career, while this marked the final theatrical release for director Wong, despite notable figures like Wesley Snipes, Terence Chang, and John Woo contributing to its production. Despite being an unconventional blend of satire and sincerity, the enduring appeal of “The Big Hit” lies with those who appreciate it as such. You can now rent this undervalued gem on YouTube, Prime Video, or Apple TV.

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2025-02-23 21:03