GUNPOWDER MILKSHAKE (2021)


GUNPOWDER MILKSHAKE (2021)

Tagline: Seems like they forgot to pay the tagline guy. 

(Action, Adventure, Thriller) [R]

That's what they teach you in school these days?

In this one, an assassin named Sam (played by  Karen Gillan best known for GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY) works for a group of men called The Firm that seems to control everything in that seedy world. Sam is ordered to put a hit on a man named David that has a bunch of money this group wants, but when finding out that a new enemy of hers has David’s daughter Emily (played by Chloe Coleman best known for MY SPY) held hostage. Sam is not cool with that and decides to go against the code and rescue the girl. Now she has two groups of killers after her and the only way out is to reach out to her estranged mother and a group of female assassins who may or may not be willing to die over this little girl.  

One thing I liked about this movie was the cast. They did a really good job getting some acting veterans to handle this thing and it’s fantastic. While a lot of the cast picks up the pieces after the first half of the movie where Sam is jacking up every dude she sees, but also getting really injured herself. I will say that Karen Gillan and Chloe Coleman do a good job of carrying the movie, things don’t really get full-blown nuts until Carla Gugino (best known for SUCKER PUNCH, who plays Madeleine), Lena Headey (who plays Scarlet), Michelle Yeoh (most recently known for SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS), and Angela Bassett (who plays Anna May) get involved. 

Another strong point of this movie is the action sequences. Nothing feels forced or boring. It’s all over the top nonsense and that is part of the fun here. This movie isn’t just one giant action scene, but it does feel like one for at least 90% of the second act. 

Where this movie has its issues is that it does have some humor, but almost not enough. The grit and seriousness of the film are fine, but it feels out of balance. In fact, we get some bits of humor in the first half, but the second half with all of its action has a lot more weight in the emotion department. I think having some humor sprinkled in later in the film might have done this thing some good.  JOLT for instance had just a bit more balance regarding humor and grit. 

Also whenever you are known for being a “planner”, you might want to have a way to get the back of the washing machine back in place after you remove it to make your getaway. Just that little effort might have saved them about 20 minutes or more in one scene where Sam and her mom Scarlet are running for their lives. 

I have to give this movie a 5 out of 7. I think part of me was leaning 4, but nothing in this is trying to shock you for the sake of being “bent”. It’s an over-the-top action romp with just a ton of dudes getting jacked up by female assassins, but some more humor in that last 45 minutes would have been welcome. 

GRAPHICS ARE THE PROPERTY OF STUDIOCANAL AND ARE USED FOR REVIEW PURPOSES ONLY. 

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