each other lead them to forming an awkward romance, and she and Melvin attempt to escape from the fiasco, pursued by Cisco. In the chaos, Melvin happens to run into Chantel and finally takes the opportunity to stand up to her and end their relationship. A fight ensues between Cisco and Melvin, culminating at a video store where the ever-honest Melvin stops to return an overdue tape of King Kong Lives. Melvin kills Cisco by stabbing him in the chest, but not before Cisco arms an explosive device. Melvin leaves the building and is confronted by Keiko, her father and Paris. He re-enters the building, which explodes. Paris and Nishi, believing Melvin to be dead, call off the manhunt. Soon Melvin is revealed to have survived, sheltered from the blast by an enormous solid gold film stand-up made for the flop that destroyed Nishi's career. Melvin and Keiko are reunited and ride off together, while Nishi recoups his losses by making a film out of the story of his daughter's kidnapping. Cast Mark Wahlberg as Melvin Smiley Lou Diamond Phillips as Cisco Christina Applegate as Pam Shulman Avery Brooks as Paris Bokeem Woodbine as Crunch Antonio Sabàto Jr. as Vince China Chow as Keiko Nishi Lainie Kazan as Jeanne Shulman Elliott Gould as Morton Shulman Sab Shimono as Jiro Nishi Robin Dunne as Gump Lela Rochon as Chantel Danny Smith as Video Store Kid Production The Big Hit was shot for the relatively low budget of $13 million and was produced by film partners John Woo, Terence Chang, and Wesley Snipes. Reception Box office The film debuted at #1 at the box office. It went on to gross $27.0 million domestically. Critical response The Big Hit had a mixed reception from critics. Jack Matthews commented in the Los Angeles Times that "The Big Hit, which was brought to Wesley Snipes' production company by Hong Kong legend John Woo, attempts to take the East-West merger even further, and the result is an only fitfully funny comic mongrel." Remarked Roger Ebert, "I guess you could laugh at this. You would have to be seriously alienated from normal human values and be nursing a deep-seated anger against movies that make you think even a little, but you could laugh." The New York Times''' Lawrence Van Gelder was equally scathing: "If The Big Hit had any valid claim to excellence, rest assured that its