A Review of ‘Guns Up’: A sometimes funny shoot-’em-up that is occasionally on target
A gangster is torn between familial commitments and working for a mob.
‘Guns Up’: A sometimes shoot-’em-up that is occasionally on target
Cast: Kevin James, Christine Ricci, Luis Guzman, Joey Diaz, Melissa Leo, Timothy V. Murphy, Solomon Hughes, Francis Cronin, Maximilian Osinski, Miroslav Barnyashev, Keana Marie, Leo Easton Kelly, C.J. Perry Barnyashev, Gil Tatzu, Suni Reyes, Rhys Athayde, Kelly Landry, Joe Munroe
Critic’s Rating: 3 Stars out of 5
Director: Edward Drake
Duration: 1 hour, 31 minutes
Genre: Action, Comedy, Drama, Mystery
Language: English
Release: 2025
What’s it about?
A gangster is torn between familial commitments and working for a mob.
Review:
Guns Up is a slickly mounted but ultimately only a modestly effective action flick. Though well-paced and punctuated by interesting revelations, this movie can’t quite decide whether it wants to be a serious high-octane crime drama or a parody of the same. However, themes of confused morality, shifting loyalty, hidden identities and overdue revenge combine in an intriguing manner, making for quite some pulp fiction. This, while a multitude of discharging guns, stabbing knives and flinging fists keep the screen splattered with copious amounts of blood.
At the heart of this violent yarn is Ray Hayes, a cop-turned-mob enforcer who is attracted to the financially rewarding lure of his change in profession. Kevin James plays this conflicted muscle-for-hire in the role that contrasts sharply from his previous turns as the hapless funny romantic. Though signed on by gang chieftain Michael (Melissa Leo), Hayes’ real desire in life is to provide well for his family and open a diner with his wife Alice (Christina Ricci). However, just as he amasses enough money to pursue this dream, another mobster (Timothy V. Murphy) attempts to take control of his gang – complicating Hayes’ situation.
Adding to the cast are such characters as Hayes’ allies Danny (Francis Cronin) - a drolly humorous Irishman with a thick brogue accent; the shady Ignatious (Luis Guzman); and tough guy Harry the Hammer (Miroslav Barnyashev). Will they remain steadfast in their allegiance to Michael and Hayes and continue to uphold the “code” by which they had operated? Or will the tendency for conspiracy and betrayal take hold? Twists and turns abound thanks to one person playing against the other through acts of audacious manipulation. Meanwhile, the most unexpected assailants enter the fray which surprises all the people involved, including Hayes’ daughter Siohban (Keana Marie) and son Henry (Leo Easton Kelly).
Hayes’ moral dichotomy - a loving family man and a ruthless killer - seems to mirror that of real life New Jersey-based hit man Richard Kuklinski AKA the “Iceman”. Adhering to the character, James plays out his explosive confrontations with ice-cool vigour. But his tackling of dilemmas are not always convincing. It’s also amusing to note how James’ hair has relocated from his scalp to his chin though he could have exuded a tad more humour. This film seems like an extension for writer-director Edward Drake from his successful work in the crime TV series True Detective (2014), though this outing is perhaps not as successful. However, Drake’s script is studded with fairly memorable lines such as when Hayes’ talks about Michael’s code as “The right way of doing wrong things” and when Alice states “There’s more to life than death”.
In an evident tribute to the action movie genre, there are references to such flicks as Cape Fear (1991) and Scarface (1983) as well as a funny one of John Wick – a franchise whose relentless gunfire this movie tends to mimic. Indeed, the barrage of unidentified gunmen who crawl out of the woodwork is thrilling but implausible and borders on monotony and tedium. Plus, the closing scene attempts to match that of the animated hit The Incredibles (2004), which unfortunately negates some of the credibility that this movie aims to generate. Though watchable and entertaining throughout, Guns Up could have been lowered at times. Still, this film often “shoots to score”.
