Underrated Action Movie of the Week: The Big Hit (1998) -

Before Mark Wahlberg became the go-to tough guy in action thrillers, he starred in one of the most offbeat, highly stylised action comedies of the ‘90s—The Big Hit. It’s loud, absurd, explosive, and surprisingly heartfelt, making it a true cult gem that doesn’t get the love it deserves.

Wahlberg plays Melvin Smiley, a professional hitman with a problem: he can’t say no to anyone. He’s juggling a double life—keeping his job a secret from his demanding fiancée, paying for his girlfriend’s spending habits, and desperately trying to keep the peace with his eccentric team of fellow assassins.

When a supposedly easy kidnapping goes sideways, Melvin finds himself the target of betrayal, a crime boss, and one very ticked-off video store clerk.

Directed by Kirk Wong and produced by John Woo, the film is packed with stylised gunplay, slow-motion shootouts, and wild camera angles—delivering a Hong Kong action vibe through a Hollywood lens.

Wahlberg brings a mix of awkward charm and believable badassery, playing a killer who’s just way too nice for his job.

The supporting cast is stacked: Lou Diamond Phillips as a scene-stealing lunatic, Avery Brooks, Antonio Sabato Jr., and even a pre-Breaking Bad Lela Rochon.

The tone swings between explosive action, absurd comedy, and weirdly relatable anxiety—and somehow, it works.

It’s part Tarantino, part Woo, part Looney Tunes—and that blend is exactly why The Big Hit stands out.

The Big Hit isn’t your average action flick. It’s a chaotic cocktail of stylish violence, deadpan humour, and bizarre emotional moments wrapped in a slick late-‘90s package. For fans of quirky action with a satirical twist, this one’s long overdue for a revisit.