When a slimy undercover agent named Jasper (Austin Amelio) gets suspended for 120 days for some violence involving teenagersone gets the impression it probably should have been much longerGary is forced to step in and improvise on the job. It turns out hes really good at it, convincing a sleazebag named Craig (Mike Markoff) that hes a professional killer by detailing his technique when it comes to body disposal. Garys colleagues (memorably played by Retta and Sanjay Rao) suggest that the mildmannered cat lover and bird watcher should be their new undercover hit man. Gary takes his new assignment very seriously, researching the people asking for a murder for hire in a way that makes them more likely to hand over the money. His ability to shape himself into the right man for the job could even be read as a bit of a metacommentary on acting itselfhes playing dress up, but hes also doing the same kind of research and character work that Powell himself has done for dozens of roles. And, of course, Garys personality gamesmanship reflects his teachings about philosophy, not only in how his background allows him to read people but in how the different characters change Gary himself. And thats when Ron enters the picture. When Madison (Adria Arjona) tries to hire a hit man, she meets Ron (aka Gary) in a diner called the Please U Caflike so many choices in Powell & Linklaters blindingly smart script, even that name doesnt seem accidental. Ron listens to her story about her abusive husband, Ray, and he makes the sudden decision to save Madison from herself. Take the money you were going to spend on murder and start a new life. Its only one of many beats in the back half of Hit Man thats a bit morally ambiguous.
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