Shoot Em Up (2007) 6/10

Shoot Em Up, the high action action film that fled theatres. Now I know why.

Shoot Em Up is about an unknown man protecting a baby from thugs that want to kill it. That about sums it up. The film is thin on plot but thick on action and that's just what the creators wanted.

The film is filled is ridiculous stunts and shoot outs, cheesy one liners and two deaths involving a carrot. The film is aware of its own ridiculous cartoonish nature and feels silly because of it. The creators wanted to make a film that hearkened back to the 80s super action blockbusters but fails. Why? The films in the 80s were mostly made to be serious and lack any self awareness of the ridiculousness of their plots. The one liners were supposed to be cool but of course were funny but that's what made them great. A person knowingly acting stupid is just irritating, a person unknowingly acting stupid is usually funny and entertaining. This is the chief reason these semi-serious action flicks rarely work.

The question is, does shoot em up work? The film is indeed ridiculous and over the top but the plot wears a bit too thin and the action is too silly at times. Overall it is an enjoyable film but not for repeat viewings. Once is enough, and almost too much.

Gore - some
Nudity - some
Overall - 6/10