The Big Hit

Melvin Smiley leads a good life thanks to his talents as a contract-killer, but he is constantly juggling two demanding relationships. Chantel resents his work and Pam knows nothing of it, leaving him stretched thin trying to appease both. To cope with mounting stress, he often drinks Maalox to ease a developing ulcer.

Dissatisfied with their pay from mob boss Paris, Melvin's assassination team—Smiley, Cisco, Crunch, Vince and Gump—takes on an independent job. They kidnap Keiko Nishi for a hefty ransom, unaware of Keiko's family status. The assignment tightens the noose around them as danger closes in.

Keiko is bound and gagged and kept on Melvin's property, hidden from Pam and her parents who come to dinner. The kidnapping becomes a test of Melvin's nerve as he tries to keep her presence secret. The tension rises as the family visits threaten to reveal the ruse.

Melvin feels sympathy for Keiko and frees her from bondage, and the two begin to connect while preparing dinner together. Their growing closeness leads to a Ghost-like love moment, which is abruptly cut off when Keiko attempts to escape. The uneasy affection complicates Melvin's loyalties.

Ordered by Paris to uncover the kidnappers, the team is rattled when Cisco panics and kills Gump. His death temporarily lights a fuse, but the murder also implicates Melvin in the kidnapping. The noose tightens as the boss's investigation closes in.

A team of assassins crashes Melvin's dinner with Pam's family, triggering a chaotic shootout. Melvin realizes Pam's mother—a hardcore Jew who opposes the Gentile relationship—won't tolerate their romance, escalating the danger and personal stakes. The night spirals into violent chaos.

Melvin and Keiko's growing feelings spark an awkward romance as they attempt to escape the fiasco. They are pursued by Cisco through the ensuing chaos, pressing them toward a dangerous alliance. The bond between captor and captive complicates every choice.

In the heat of the turmoil, Melvin finally stands up to Chantel and ends their unhealthy relationship. This act marks a turning point as he asserts himself for the first time. The breakup signals a shift in how he handles danger and loyalty.

A fight culminates at a video store where Melvin briefly stops to return an overdue tape of King Kong Lives. He then confronts Cisco, stabbing him in the chest, while Cisco triggers an explosive device. The confrontation tightens the noose around all involved parties.

Melvin leaves the building only to be confronted by Keiko, her father, and Paris; he re-enters the burning building as it explodes. The chaos tests his resolve and his ability to save those he cares about. The blast seemingly ends the immediate manhunt.

Paris and Nishi, believing Melvin is dead, call off the manhunt and proceed with their own plans. The danger appears to have passed, allowing a fragile sense of safety to return for a moment. The family drama continues in the backdrop of the kidnapping plot.

Melvin survives the blast, sheltered by an enormous solid gold film stand-up made for the flop that ruined Nishi's career. He is hidden away on his property as the surrounding wreckage smolders. The improbable shelter becomes his second chance at life.

Reunited with Keiko, Melvin escapes the chaos and rides off with her into an uncertain future. Their bond has endured the worst and now promises a different kind of stability. They face the road ahead together, away from the gang and the chaos.

In the aftermath, Nishi seizes the opportunity to recoup his losses by turning the kidnapping into a film about his daughter's ordeal. The story becomes entertainment and a cautionary tale in equal measure. The cycle of money and revenge continues in another form.