Film Review: Shoot ‘Em Up

The recently released Shoot ‘Em Up, starring Clive Owen and Paul Giamatti, is a film that stays true to its name. It is the latest film to abandon story in favor of mindless action, hoping to entertain so much that viewers can turn off their brains and ignore the missing elements. Is Shoot ‘Em Up the next Crank, or is it a cheap imitation?

The similarities to Crank (review) run very deep. Both movies attempt to achieve a level of unreality that allows comical action, while at the same time poking fun at the genre itself. Shoot ‘Em Up places precedence on the poking fun, taking every opportunity to ridicule action cliches. The main character even takes cues from Bugs Bunny, in both mannerisms and weapon choice.

While some parts of the film are amusing, as a whole it is not engrossing in the least. In between absurd, over-the-top fight scenes there is little to hold your attention. Crank’s greatest achievement was that its plot device forced the action to never let up. Unfortunately Shoot ‘Em Up impresses in spurts, with plenty of filler in between.

The main character, Mr.Smith (Owen), is an extremely unlikable lead. Giamatti as the villain Hertz forces every joke he delivers, and does not rise much above being a second annoying lead. Shoot ‘Em Up is supposed to be a parody, but it lacks a lot of fun. The jokes are flat, and the ludicrous action cannot sustain itself longer than a YouTube clip.

This movie is going to be forgotten and never heard from again in about three months, so do not bother wasting your time. If you really want to see the rare engaging action scenes, wait for the DVD so you have the benefit of fast-forward. That’s all folks.

4/10