A psychology professor (Glen Powell) moonlights with the police as a fake hit man in a sting operation, bagging would-be evildoers before they can do evil. He’s good at it and everything works well until he falls for a gorgeous prospective customer (Adria Arjona), and the tangled web-weaving begins. 

Side note: It’s natural for movie fans (especially males, and male film critics in particular) to view with skepticism the emergence of potentially new Hollywood heartthrobs. Hunky looks work to a degree but are certainly no indicator of talent. 

Enter Glen Powell. Good looking, cut bod, not initially arrogant or particularly off-putting. Granted, his recent efforts in Twisters and Anyone But You were astoundingly underwhelming, but career-building takes time. Remember, Steve McQueen’s first role was in 1977’s The Blob. Powell shows versatility and some low-key comic chops, and he’s loose and confident. Terrific sexual chemistry between the two leads. 

In short, congratulations, Glen, on surviving your initiation and welcome to Hollywood movie-star status. 

It doesn’t hurt that the director is Richard Linklater, he of such varied efforts as Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, Before Midnight, Waking Life, School of Rock and Boyhood. This time, though, it’s more like he’s channeling the Coen Brothers. Powell gets co-writing credits. 

This is great, continuously unpredictable fun, but Linklater doesn’t do mere “let’s have fun” flicks, and he surprises you from time to time with subliminal reflections on such topics as the elusive nature of identity. Big screen, please. With a crowd. (115 min)