Running with the Hitman

Running with the Hitman is an engaging blend of comedy, drama, adventure, and crime genres that keep viewers on the edge of their seats. From director Melanie Mayron, the film stars Judd Hirsch, Gil Bellows, and Mercedes Ruehl in prominent roles.

In the film, Gil Bellows takes on the role of Gideon Schub, a man who is unsuccessful in professional life. He's mired in a dead-end job, and his personal life is a series of failures. Adding to his inconveniences, his grandmother informs her entire Jewish family that she is set to die in six months. In an interesting turn of events, she wishes to die by the hands of an enemy to ensure her life insurance is secured to aid her gambling addict husband. And, as luck would have it, it just so happens that Gideon's childhood best friend, Marley (played by Judd Hirsch), is a hitman.

Superbly portrayed by Mercedes Ruehl, the grandmother, in this case, enthralls the audience with her quirky requests and unique outlook on life. Her volatility brings a tangy, unpredictable humor to the movie.

Judd Hirsch magnificently captures the essence of Marley's hardened exterior, having made a livelihood out of contract killings, showing the spectrum of feelings Marley experiences upon this outrageous request by a boyhood friend's grandmother.

Meanwhile, Gideon is desperate for a new lease on life. Still, the process of convincing Marley to fulfill his grandmother's peculiar death wish proves to be an adventure in itself. Portraying Gideon's life struggles with a touch of humor and heartache, Gil Bellows manages to captivate the audience in this dicey journey toward a possible solution.

The film offers a hilarious roller coaster ride through the ups and downs of an everyday guy pushed into unexpected circumstances. Armed with only his failing courage and undeniable love for his eccentric family, Gideon's actions reflect the farcical version of how far a person can go for those he loves.

In Running with the Hitman, veterans Mercedes Ruehl and Judd Hirsch bring their exceptional acting prowess to the forefront, infusing life into their charismatic characters. They, along with Gil Bellows, become the driving force of the movie, compelling the viewers to walk by their side in this twisted, hilarious journey.

The character development throughout the movie is commendable, with each character contributing to the plot's progression. The accentuated eccentricities of the characters make them memorable and add more humor to the movie's overall plot.

Despite encompassing elements of crime and suspense, the film remains grounded in family values and love. It reflects a family's trials and tribulations and their bizarre attempt to resolve a tricky situation. The film is full of funny shocks, unexpected twists, and moments of pure, heart-warming emotion, making it a perfect blend of comedy and drama.

A thread of interpersonal relationships, attachments, and how past connections draw Marley towards Gideon's family bind the narrative together. It's all about unclear lines between right, wrong, rational, and irrational when one's beloved family's welfare hangs in the balance.

Visually, the cinematography captures the real-life atmospheres of ordinary suburban life while also providing glimpses into the sinister underworld of contract killings. The multifaceted narrative effortlessly switches between light-hearted family scenes to more intense, hushed conversations in dark alleyways.

Running with the Hitman is an offbeat comedy that explores a unique plot, appealing characters, and an unusual perspective on life and death. It's a film that offers loads of unpredicted turns throughout the narrative, encouraging viewers to expect the unexpected. Amid its humorous situations and witty dialogues, it's a cinematic experience that leaves its audience pondering human values, associations, and life beyond mediocrity. Twisty, adventurous, unpredictable, and heartwarming, Running with the Hitman presents a storyline that is anything but straightforward.