Movie Review

Shoot ‘Em Up. Now here’s a movie that makes absolutely no effort to convey anything other than the title suggests. It’s a blood spattered 90 minute kill-fest showing Clive Owens gunning down more people than Rain Man could keep a tab on. Best of all, it’s really entertaining. The movie’s plot, being roughly as important to the film as Bridgeport is to the rest of America, goes as such. Mysterious tough as nails Mr. Smith (Clive Owens) is peacefully enjoying a carrot on a city bench when a horrified and pregnant woman runs past chased by a nameless goon who’s threatening to murder her. Of course, modern day Arnold Schwarzenegger action hero Clive intervenes by obliterating dozens of goons (including one whose killed by having a carrot jammed into his throat) while simultaneously delivering the woman’s baby. During the shooting escapades the new mother dies leaving Mr. Smith to take care of the newborn. The rest of this comically over the top flick has Clive defending the baby while uncovering the true reasoning’s as to why he’s (the baby) is being pursued. Add to this a lactating prostitute and some b-grade one liners and you have the premise.
None of this would be worth seeing though if it didn’t have impressive acting by Clive Owens and equally impressive acting by Paul Giamatti as the main villain. Will either actor see this as their career defining role? Let’s hope not. Still though, watching Giamatti try to snipe a baby off playground equipment is a sight to see. On a negative note its dark! It’s not “this is atrocious, Shoot ‘Em Up you’re a joy thief” dark but at its most lighthearted it’s still a guilty pleasure. It’s a thanksgiving helping of dumb combat that should hold you over till the next of its kind rolls around. For that alone Shoot ‘Em Up receives an A- on the scale of “Go See It Ability-ness