The poet Henry David Thoreau once said, “most men lead lives of quiet desperation.” That’s probably a sentiment that the protagonist, Gary Johnson, could have identified with in the new Netflix film Hit Man, which starts streaming on Friday.

The film is based on a true story—though some of the more exciting elements of what happens in the film were an embellishment of the screenwriters, star Glen Powell and director Richard Linklater. The film follows a professor, Gary (Powell), living in New Orleans. He’s an average, boring guy, whose last relationship flamed out because of a lack of spark.

But, due to his technical prowess, he supplements his day by assisting the police department running sting operations against those trying to hire a killer. When the lead undercover officer (Austin Amelio) gets popped and suspended, Gary is called on to step in. Soon, he finds his calling.

Gary does his research and crafts an elaborate cover—including disguise—for each of his sting operations. And he’s wildly successful at getting them to incriminate themselves and setting up arrests. He finds a real passion for it. But one day, as he’s crafted a new character Ray, he comes across Maddy (Adria Arjona), a lonely and suffering wife who he takes a liking to. After convincing her not to go through with it, Gary as Ray finds himself drawn to Maddy.

But can he make a relationship built on a wild fabrication work? Or will it be his undoing?

This film made its debut in late 2023, making the rounds at film festivals before getting picked up by Netflix. Now, it’s getting a release to wide audiences. It’s a fun and well-made film that has an interesting story and engaging cast.

Linklater is no stranger to creating a well-told story. The characters are well drawn, the humor works, and this moves at a good pace. I enjoyed the back-and-forth, the tension in the plot, and the way the whole thing comes together, including the quirky twist ending.

It also helps that Powell delivers a delightful and smooth performance. I enjoyed his slipping into the different characters for his work, and the back-and-forth with Maddy as he tries to balance the act of pretending to be Ray. His back-and-forth with Arjona is also great.

Hit Man is a fun film. There are a few slow points, but overall, the concept, story, and performances work. It delivers a satisfying narrative with some solid performances, making for a fun time with a movie. It’s worth checking out when it streams tomorrow!

Hit Man streams on Netflix beginning Friday, June 7.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.