Glen Powell's latest film, How to Make a Killing, has been marketed as being 'inspired by' the classic 1949 Ealing comedy Kind Hearts and Coronets, but it is essentially a conventional remake that fails to capture the original's charm. The film follows Becket Redfellow (Powell), who murders wealthy relatives to secure an inheritance, but lacks the moral ambiguity and wit of its predecessor.
Director John Patton Ford attempts to infuse the narrative with 'eat the rich' themes, but the protagonist remains morally undefined. Becket is neither a Robin Hood figure nor a genuinely unlikeable antihero, leaving him as a 'formless pile of dough'. The film's timidity prevents it from either defending his actions or condemning them outright.
Margaret Qualley stands out as Julia Steinway, bringing a repressed mania reminiscent of her role in The Substance. However, Powell's reserved performance fails to energise the character, and the film's attempts at social commentary feel watered down. The supporting cast includes Raff Law, Zach Woods, and Topher Grace, but their archetypal roles do little to elevate the material.
Ultimately, How to Make a Killing feels like a sentimental family comedy from the 1990s with a higher body count. Despite its opening declaration that 'Money does buy happiness', the film files its teeth down to nubs, leaving a limp and unsatisfying experience.
