By putting in too much effort, it lost its unique groove. I understand the boiling passion (enthusiasm), but it would have been better if they had shown more composure and experience. It’s even more disappointing considering the veteran actors who can deliver action-comedy visuals. This is ‘Hitman 2’ (Directed by Choi Won-seob), which has fallen into the swamp of overambition, struggling to manage its heavy weight.
The film is about the more challenging Season 2 writing journey of Jun (Kwon Sang-woo), a former legendary agent of the National Intelligence Service who has quickly fallen from a mega-hit writer to a ‘brain-dead writer’.
After the success of the previous installment, Jun announces the new beginning of Season 2, but contrary to expectations, he receives a barrage of harsh criticism. He is even ignored by his daughter, and the coin he secretly invested in has completely failed. In a bid to survive, he ambitiously continues his webtoon, but as it gains popularity, a terror incident mimicking his webtoon occurs, leading him to be accused of being a criminal.
This is the sequel to ‘Hitman’ (2020), which was loved for its charmingly handsome men, hilarious gags, fantastic chemistry, high-quality action, and fresh webtoon elements, along with the performance of the sole female lead, Hwang Woo-seul-hye. The original cast, including Kwon Sang-woo, Jung Joon-ho, Lee Yi-kyung, and Hwang Woo-seul-hye, returns, with Kim Sung-oh joining as a new villain.
As is often the case with sequels, the scale has increased, and the comedic and webtoon elements that became strengths have also been expanded. There are more villains as well. Many elements have been mixed in to provide a somewhat expanded message. The burning desire of the production team and actors to become ‘better than the older brother’ is felt throughout the film, but the problem is that it is excessive and lacks harmony.
Kwon Sang-woo carries the film again. He pours out his charm, utilizing his unique strengths. The chemistry with his sweet yet fierce wife (Hwang Woo-seul-hye) and his teenage daughter (Lee Ji-won) remains strong. The upgraded energy of Hwang Woo-seul-hye adds to the synergy, matching that of the previous installment.
If the family story is one major axis, the other axis is the crime cases solved with his former colleagues from the National Intelligence Service. However, the screen time for Jung Joon-ho and Lee Yi-kyung is somewhat ambiguous. (Especially Lee Yi-kyung's tone is excessively over-the-top, even for a comedy skit.) The ‘bromance’ that feels deeply affectionate despite the rampant swearing is welcome, but the added love triangle episode feels contrived.
It vaguely reminds one of the setting in ‘This Means War’ (2012), where two best friends and top CIA agents engage in a love war over a woman, but it feels outdated and lacks edge, freshness, and fun for a scene viewed in 2024. The buildup for the ending climax is mediocre, making it feel like an old, unnecessary addition.
Main villain Kim Sung-oh feels out of place. While I understand the intention behind adding depth to his character, it fails to integrate into the film, resulting in a lack of tension. The character itself is a mismatch, leading to a failure in its purpose.
The action sequences that mix webtoon and live-action are stylish, but the story feels too outdated. The combination of genres and tones is chaotic. Unlike the previous installment, which cleverly and smartly combined unexpected elements into a cohesive storyline, this feels disorganized.
The ‘original intention’ that Jun held in his heart should have been in the megaphone. There is a lack of a central point to stabilize and guide the film. It fails to firmly root the existing novelty and intelligence, instead hanging heavy and flashy decorations on branches that cannot bear the weight, leading to a fall.
It’s a shame that good characters, great actors, and a fresh action style inspired by webtoons result in such a lackluster product. The film is filled with exaggerated tones, awkward episodes, and mismatched characters. This is the result of losing rationality in the face of overwhelming enthusiasm. There are also many loose sections where the pacing drops. I genuinely want to cheer for the long-awaited absurd comedy and the return of beloved stars, but I can’t muster the courage. The break-even point is about 2.3 million.
‘Hitman 2’ will be the first among the anticipated films of the New Year holiday, releasing on the 22nd. Rated for ages 15 and up. Running time is 118 minutes.
