I don’t have all that much to say so I am going to keep this short and sweet. John Patton Ford’s How to Make a Killing is an entertaining but forgettable satire. On one hand, it is the familiar “eat the rich” dark comedy filled with the skewering of wealth, greed, and moral rot. But on the other hand, it wants to function as a cautionary tale about a man selling his soul in the pursuit of money and status. Both of these framings would have worked for this story, but sadly the film doesn’t commit to either one. It gestures toward sharp social commentary but it pulls its punches. Then it pivots towards a character-driven tragedy without giving that arc enough weight to land properly. The result is a film that feels oddly empty despite its provocative subject matter. Coasting through its idea we have seen recycled again and again over the past decade. The satire lacks bite. The moral warning lacks depth. What should feel incisive instead comes across as mildly amusing but emotionally inept. That being said, it would be unfair to dismiss the film outright. There is a baseline level of craft and charm that keeps the film at the very least watchable. A lot of that comes down to Glen Powell (Hit Man), who remains effortlessly charismatic even when the material falters him. Between the murder, the romance and the slick presentation, How to Make a Killing is still a fun ride. Albeit a forgettable one.
My Rating: B-
How to Make A Killing is in theaters nationwide.
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