The Man from Toronto is another stale hitman comedy from the Hitman's Bodyguard guy. Surprise, surprise. nataliakeogan's review of the Netflix film:
, similarly featuring an unlikely central duo that’s tasked with defeating a nefarious criminal force. While the Netflix Original film manages to sneak in a few genuinely funny moments, it’s not nearly as action-packed, suspenseful or humorous as it aims to be. For a film that’s largely about a fearsome globe-trotting assassin, it lacks guts.
In an attempt to orchestrate an elaborate birthday getaway for his wife Lori , struggling fitness entrepreneur Teddy drops her off at a day spa in Onacock, Virginia while he gets a nearby cabin rental ready for their weekend stay. However, the confirmation email he physically printed out is smudged due to a “low toner” issue, making it hard for him to make out whether the address contains a six versus an eight. Taking a gamble, he settles on pulling into the cabin with the six in its address.
As it turns out, the goon who answered the door also mistook Teddy’s identity. In reality, he was expecting The Man from Toronto , an assassin notorious for his brutal torture methods that always get political captives to spill their confidential intel. Since no one knows Toronto’s true identity, Terry’s box of birthday goodies—including a steak knife, an eggplant and personal lubricant—was mistaken for a cruel assortment of torture devices.
So begins Terry’s odyssey, though it’s not long before the real Toronto tracks him down and confronts him over assuming his identity. Of course, the aircraft becomes compromised and Toronto makes quick work of the military-grade crew escorting Terry. Now that he and Terry are the last two survivors on the plane, Toronto states that he’s only keeping him alive to co-opt the FBI’s attempt to track him down.
Undoubtedly the film’s greatest downfall is its laziness concerning depictions of women, who solely exist to be defeated, courted or possessed by the masculine central duo. While Terry is assuming Toronto’s identity, Lori is put under the watchful eye of the sexy Agent Santoro . This enrages Terry, who instantly lobbies for an uglier FBI escort. Lori is depressingly at ease with the possessive Terry’s financial issues and previous lack of commitment to celebrating her birthday.