Starring Clive Owen, Paul Giamatti, and Monica Bellucci, "Shoot 'Em Up" is a maniacal take-off on action thrillers with a body count (according to IMDb) of 106, killed on the ground, in cars, in planes, and in the air. Most of the bad guys are shooting at (and missing) our hero with automatic weapons as he picks them off one by one with a pistol.
The action scenes are purposely so over the top they're funny. The plot is purposely ridiculous, and director/writer Michael Davis makes it work ridiculously well. This is a very funny movie with laugh out loud scenes all the way through it, all played totally deadpan and serious.
It seems to have escaped the notice of many that "Shoot 'Em Up" is a parody of action thrillers. It actually is a comedy. Giamatti is remarkably good as the villain, and Owen is competent as the impassively masculine hero. I give Giamatti more credit for his acting, though, because he walks the fine line of deadly serious evil man with an exasperating wife and the only overtly comedic lines without a misstep.
The action scenes are purposely so over the top they're funny. The plot is purposely ridiculous, and director/writer Michael Davis makes it work ridiculously well. This is a very funny movie with laugh out loud scenes all the way through it, all played totally deadpan and serious.
It seems to have escaped the notice of many that "Shoot 'Em Up" is a parody of action thrillers. It actually is a comedy. Giamatti is remarkably good as the villain, and Owen is competent as the impassively masculine hero. I give Giamatti more credit for his acting, though, because he walks the fine line of deadly serious evil man with an exasperating wife and the only overtly comedic lines without a misstep.