Glen Powell has star power, and How to Make a Killing once again proves why he’s the perfect choice to be a Hollywood leading man.
I’ll be honest, I walked into the theatre with very low expectations, and I’m happy to say that I actually quite enjoyed the movie. Between Glen Powell’s charm, the messy deaths, and the entertaining story, the film managed to impress me a little. Unfortunately, it wasn’t all smooth sailing.
The movie jumps between themes that are polar opposites. Sometimes it works in its favour, but most of the time it just clashes. Between its “eat the rich” and “become the rich” message, the film occasionally feels off. It’s not a Robin Hood story, nor is it a Batman story. So thematically, the film feels a little confusing, but the story itself is a lot of fun.
I think the fact that it’s a dark comedy works in its favour. Glen Powell charms his way into people’s lives and then ends them, which comes across as hilarious. I also loved some of the romance moments in the film, and there might be one or two love triangles.
When it comes to the cast, Glen Powell was phenomenal. Margaret Qualley, on the other hand, was so menacing. I started off liking her character, but by the end, I had some mixed feelings. Jessica Henwick is also fantastic, but then again, I love her in everything. The supporting cast was great as well, with Topher Grace having a really fun role.
I loved the film’s setting. It not only feels like New York, but you also get to move out of the city. What makes it extra special is that the film was shot right here in Cape Town. I thought some places looked familiar, but I didn’t pay close attention. I know I’m a little biased, but that definitely counts in the film’s favour.
I applaud director John Patton Ford’s direction. I think his vision translates well onto the screen. The script was great, but once again, I wish they would’ve tweaked the story a little. How to Make a Killing is a fine watch in cinemas. It’s entertaining, charming, and really funny at times, but it misses the mark a few times. I think I might find it more endearing after a rewatch.
I walked into How to Make a Killing with very low expectations, and I was genuinely surprised. Glen Powell once again proves why he works so well as a Hollywood leading man. His charm carries the movie, and between the messy deaths and the entertaining story, I actually had a lot of fun.
The film isn’t perfect, though. It jumps between polar opposite themes, especially its “eat the rich” versus “become the rich” message, and that clash doesn’t always work. It’s not a Robin Hood story, and it’s not a Batman story either, so thematically it can feel a little confused.
Where it really works is the dark comedy. Watching Glen Powell charm people and then kill them is genuinely funny. The cast is strong too. Powell is great, Margaret Qualley is menacing, Jessica Henwick is fantastic as always, and Topher Grace has a really fun role.
I also loved the setting, especially knowing parts were shot right here in Cape Town. Overall, How to Make a Killing is entertaining, charming, and funny, even if it misses the mark a few times. Worth a watch.
