Hitman: Agent 47

47 (Rupert Friend) is the result of a genetic experiment. He is the perfect killing machine - effective, precise, and absolutely emotionless. The program he came from has long since been discontinued, and 47 is the last of his kind. But a large corporation wants to revive the program in order to breed an invincible killer army. That's what 47 is here to stop. The key is a scientist who is the only one who knows the codes for the development of the clones. But he's been in hiding for years. The only way to get to him seems to be his daughter Katia (Hannah Ware), on whose heels also the mysterious John Smith (Zachary Quinto) has attached himself. A wild and extremely bloody cat-and-mouse game begins, which leads all involved from Berlin to Singapore, where even the supposedly invincible 47 is confronted with an extremely dangerous and powerful enemy...

Hitman: Agent 47 is the second attempt to establish the successful video franchise in the cinema after Hitman - Everyone Dies Alone from 2007. Unfortunately, however, this attempt once again fails due to a production filled with unintentional comedy, wooden actors and annoying Audi product placement, which also comes across as somewhat sloppily executed due to an alarming number of connection errors. No question, first-time director Aleksander Bach has an eye for style. His film looks really good at many moments. But behind the dapper facade, unfortunately, is a script filled with inane dialogue that even talented actors like Ciarán Hinds and Jürgen Prochnow can't breathe life into. With less experienced colleagues like the completely overmatched Hannah Ware or a frighteningly soulless Thomas Kretschmann, the weak script has truly disastrous consequences.

Rupert Friend tries hard as the cloned killer, but he doesn't really come across as convincing with the frozen expression on his face as he shoots his way through. So there is only the action left, which at least could make genre fans feel better about some of the weaknesses. Unfortunately, the film can only make up a little ground here as well. The fact that 47 always chases his opponents in slow motion takes on a silly quality at some point. The fight scenes are occasionally quite amusingly implemented, but the excessive use of CGI blood and other special effects also robs these moments again and again much of their potential.

Hitman: Agent 47 is far from the worst film of the year. It simply has too many successful aspects to offer for that. But given the potential offered by the popular template, and given the obvious talent of some of those involved in front of and behind the camera, the result is not only disappointing, but also a little annoying. It may be that some viewers, who just like it when it crashes nicely, won't mind the weaknesses listed here and still have a really good time at the movies. But even if the film has entertainment value on an Uwe Boll trash level, even with the greatest goodwill it can not be said that this video game adaptation would have been a good film. For this, unfortunately, there is then only one: with clear deductions conditionally worth seeing - or put another way. Game over!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp