Hitman 2 Review: Kwon Sang-woo's Game Cast, a Scattered Script

This Hitman 2 review starts with the film's best asset: a premise that pokes fun at its own creator. Korean action comedy sequel Hitman 2 brings back Kwon Sang-woo as Jun, a cartoonist whose pen suddenly seems to predict real violence. The idea is sharp, but the execution is far less so.

Hitman 2 Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

The Hitman 2 plot picks up after the success of Jun's Webtoon "Assassin Jun." Season two is due, but Jun is out of ideas and under pressure. In desperation, he lifts a storyline from an anonymous email and publishes it.

Then real-life terrorist attacks begin to resemble the story he just drew. That is the hook: the line between fiction and reality blurs, and Jun has to work out who sent the email and why. The tagline, "Pen is mightier than gun!!", sums up the playful tone the film is going for.

Director Choi Won-sub, who co-wrote the script with Shin Jung-ryoul, keeps the setup easy to follow. It runs 114 minutes, which is a little long for a story this slight. For readers curious about the Hitman 2 release date, it arrived in South Korea on January 22, 2025.

What Works in Hitman 2

The central concept is the strongest part. A creator who fears his own imagination has real comic potential, and the film gets a few good gags from the gap between Jun's heroic comic and his clumsy real life.

The production also moves along at a brisk, colorful pace. Scenes switch between the drawn world and the real one without confusion, and the lighter set pieces carry some energy.

• A self-aware, meta premise about creative burnout

• Easy-to-follow setup that needs little knowledge of the first film

• A cast that commits fully to the silliness

If you enjoy comedy movie reviews with a meta twist, there is a decent idea here.

Hitman 2 Cast and Performances

The Hitman 2 cast is led by Kwon Sang-woo as Jun. He plays the frazzled artist with plenty of physical comedy and a likable, put-upon charm, and he holds the film together even when the script wobbles.

Jung Jun-ho appears as Cheon Deok-gyu and Lee Yi-kyung as Cheol, adding the sort of bickering, buddy-style energy Korean comedies love. Hwang Woo-seul-hye plays Mi-na, Lee Ji-won plays Kim Ga-yeong, and Kim Seung-oh plays Pierre Jean.

The acting is generally solid. Most of the problems come from what the characters are asked to do, not from how the actors do it.

Where Hitman 2 Stumbles

The biggest issue is tone. The film tries to be a spy action romp, a broad comedy, a family drama and a romance all at once, and none of those threads gets enough room. Early audience reaction has been lukewarm, with one reviewer calling it a mashup of unfunny jokes and half-baked drama.

The action is the weakest of the lot. For a film that promises terrorist plots, the set pieces are small and often fall flat, which is a letdown for fans of action movie reviews who want real stakes.

The romance and family subplots also feel tacked on. They slow the pace and pull attention away from the more interesting mystery of the anonymous email.

Is Hitman 2 Worth Watching?

Is Hitman 2 worth watching? Only if you already enjoyed the first film or you are happy with a loose, goofy comedy that does not take itself seriously. The premise is fun, and Kwon Sang-woo is a likable lead.

But the script lacks focus, the humor is hit and miss, and the action never lifts the film. At a score of 6.2 out of 10, it is a mild, watchable sequel rather than a standout. You can read more about the film's background on its Hitman 2 IMDb page.

For something with a tighter blend of laughs and thrills, you may want to browse our crime movie reviews instead.

Who Will Enjoy Hitman 2

• Fans of the first Hitman film who want more of Jun

• Viewers who like silly Korean action comedies and meta humor

• Anyone after a light, low-pressure watch rather than a serious thriller