Review: Shoot 'Em Up - Directed by Michael Davis
Rated R for strong language, brief nudity, and plenty of gun violence

The phrase 'balls to the wall' is thrown around a lot lately. Though I'm at a loss to describe Shoot 'Em Up any other way.

In this appropriately titled actioner, lead hero Mr. Smith (Clive Owen) battles hordes of goons and hitmen who are out to kill a mother and her newborn child. There's a bit more to the plot--if you can really call it that--but it's Shoot 'Em Up's distinct lack of a coherent story that only builds to its cheesy, satirical charm.

I can recommend Shoot 'Em Up to only two groups of moviegoers: gun fanatics and Clive Owen fans. I fall in that later category, so let me start there.

If not for Owen's deadpan delivery and constant look of annoyance, Shoot 'Em Up would have been nowhere near as enjoyable. In his own unique way, he's able to deliver a one-liner with the seriousness of Shakespeare. His adversarial patsy, hammed up by Paul Giamatti, is also good fun to watch, but it's Owen that holds this flick together.

But a movie called Shoot 'Em Up better succeed in having some damn fine action to back the title up. In most ways, it does. There are four well choreographed 'gun ballets' in the vein of a John Woo film to take note of--each featuring their own unique set of circumstances played out to a pounding heavy metal song. Though what I found disappointing about these scenes was how fast they fizzled out and how heavily they were edited. Never is the viewer graced with a wide shot of the action or is focus given to any one event for a meaningful amount of time.

If you enjoyed such mindless romps as Smokin' Aces or Crank, you'll find a similar flair in Shoot 'Em Up. Although definitely not a classic by any stretch, it's still a solid hour and half of heavy violence, quirky characters, and impossible stunts.

Go for the... chance to see Clive Owen shoot people with guns. Lots of guns.

Stay for the... ridiculously unnecessary mid-air shoot-out after jumping from a plane.

Rating: 8 / 10