Mikes Film Talk

Writer/Director Edward Drake trots out the 2025 Action/Comedy Guns Up. Watching the film, it seems that “The family that slays together, stays together.” Kevin James, once again, plays a tough guy, versus his usual comedic foil. He is the head of the Hayes famiglia, a former cop who trades his badge in for more lucrative pay.

Guns Up Story

Ray and Alice Hayes are saving up for their own restaurant. On what should be his last night as a “hitman” Ray’s old boss is replaced. He can no longer walk away but must work for his new, more unpleasant, boss. Ray now has to extricate his family before the crew kill his unsuspecting wife and kids.

The Guns Up Cast

Kevin James is Ray Hayes.

Christina Ricci is Alice Hayes.

Luis Guzmán is Ignatius Locke.

Joey Diaz is Charlie Brooks.

Melissa Leo is Michael Temple.

Timothy V. Murphy is Lonny Castigan.

Francis Cronin is Danny Clogan.

Maximilian Osinski is Antonio Castigan.

Miroslav Barnyashev is Harry the Hammer.

Keana Marie is Siohbán Hayes.

Leo Easton Kelly is Henry Hayes.

Let’s Talk Guns Up

Drake’s action comedy offering has been accused of being both overly simplistic and sophomoric. I beg to differ. While Guns Up may be not too complex, it has a solid and fun premise. We have to, as viewers, ask a few questions. Ones that Drake appears to be asking. Firstly, how well do we know the people we are married to? Secondly, how solid is our family unit? Third, and foremost, what are we willing to do to protect our partner and our kids.

Granted, all these questions are answered in a somewhat bombastic fashion, but the film is funny. *There are some pretty “meta” moments going on here. At one point the boy asks if their dad is “John Wick.” His sister replies that their dad apparently married John Wick.*

There are some other self referential moments. Guzmán‘s character pulls out a thompson machine gun, with a round drum magazine. Right after, he then fires a RPG at the bad guys. Both of these weapons, the thompson and the RPG figure in a shootout between his character in The Last Stand (2013) and that film’s villains.

Cast is King/Queen

Kevin James marries up his abilities with aplomb here. He has been successfully making the transition from comedy to villain to action comedy star. Christina Ricci moves solidly into “bad arsery” with ease, she really could be the female John Wick that Siohbán references.

Speaking of Keana Marie. This young actress looks like a young Elizabeth Ashley and has acting chops for days. *Ashley was in the Burt Reynolds television show about a small Arkansas town called, Evening Shade (1990-1994.) Google it and see what we mean about Marie.*

Young Leo Easton Kelly is one, like Keana Marie, to watch out for. He knocks his role out of the proverbial park.

Melissa Leo has what amounts to an overly long cameo but she kills it with her delivery.

Guns Up Works

The film works. Stunt work here is businesslike and apart from the few moments where Ricci’s character is clearly not her but a stunt double, the fight scenes rock. One has to remember that Drake is not trying to recreate Shakespeare. Taken as the film is given, it entertains. All the actors in this one are old favorites, or as in the case of Marie and Easton Kelly, new favorites.

DP Brendan Galvin shoots the film in a very straightforward fashion and Editor Todd E. Miller snaps everything together with surgical precision. The practical FX look good and are amazingly realistic. The wound makeup on James’ face is impressive.

The Verdict

Guns Up is a fun watch. It earns a solid 4 stars, the film loses one star due to its contrived plot, and is streaming on Paramount +. It can also be rented via Prime. If one goes in with the idea of not taking this one too seriously, it is an enjoyable romp.

There is quite a lot of violence, some claret but little overall gore. There is very little swearing, no nudity and, despite its R rating, no sex.

The Trailer