Shoot 'Em Up.
I guess I'm the target demo for this movie, namely, 10-50 year old males who like to see things get blown up, and guntacularness (look it up). I also read two of my Eric Approved (C) reviewers who said it was so over the top that it was enjoyable. With these two facts going for it, I expected to love the movie, and thus I went. Even, if when the rest of the world thinks of America, they probably think of us going to see these gunporn movies carrying our Baconators and a gallon of soda (.... i had no such food!), I would be damned if I missed seeing essentially a violent cartoon brought to real life.
And what of it you say...well there was violence, guns, insanity, and Paul Giamatti a step removed from twisting his fingers through a long thin mustache. Even with all that though...it failed to deliver on its promise....or the promise I developed for it in my head.
Clive Owen has the cool-under-fire-stoic-badass-with-a-heart-of-gold thing cornered, and he does some crazy things, many of which you can see in the trailer. But all the action, and all the reasons behind it are strung together lazily. I know its an action movie, but to be good it still has to be taut and engaging, and have a purpose, however simple it might be.
Shoot 'Em Up fails on these accounts for most of the movie, though peppered throughout are some scenes where your jaw drops and you just chuckle at yourself in awe of what they attempted.
The other issue is being part of a jaded video game generation. I can't help but look at most things, and if they fail for me, recognize where they could have been better. Combine this with games, where I've seen and played through some amazing action scenes, the filmmaker really has to try hard to be able to measure up. It may sound ludicrous, but watching the movie was like playing a video game, and as such, it as higher standards for how bat-shit insane it has to be before I can begin to enjoy it on that level.
So guys and action loving gals, look for it on DVD, find a friend who has a large TV, and watch it, but don't expect too much.
