The Reviews For Glen Powell's New 'Screw-Loose Thriller' Are Here

The first reviews have been published for Glen Powell's upcoming comedy/thriller, How To Make a Killing.

While most reviews praise Powell's lead performance, the film has struggled to capture the attention of many critics. At the time of publication prior to its release on February 20, the film has a Rotten Tomatoes critics' score of 58%.

What Critics Are Saying About Glen Powell's New Movie

How To Make A Killing is a modern remake of the 1949 dark comedy Kind Hearts and Coronets, which has gone on to be a staple of British cinema in the decades since its release. The new film is a very loose adapation, changing many aspects of the plot and merely using the original as inspiration rather than a blueprint.

The Guardian labels John Patton Ford's new film "a pointless remake", noting that "Ford wants this to be snappy and stylish, and while it certainly has the feel of prestige pop [...] there's no spark." The review concludes that Ford has made "a real mess" of the film, even going so far as to liken Powell's performance to "a Disney-fied Patrick Bateman."

IndieWire's review echoes a similar sentiment: "The ingredients are all there [...] but the film suffers from a pair of unfortunate missteps." The review also raises questions of Powell's lead performance being misguided, claiming that the film should not have "...cast the eminently charming Powell as a bad dude, driven by rage."

One final review from The Wrap is slightly more forgiving of the film's messy tone and offbeat lead performance. "Powell continues to show his movie star appeal [...] he knows how to be roguish enough to win us to his side while never shying away from the malevolence driving Becket forward."

Despite the film's mixed reviews and lack of critical appreciation, How To Make a Killing is still projected to have a modest opening weekend at the box office. According to IMDb, the film is on track for a domestic opening of roughly $8 million.