93 of 102 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Mindlessly memorable, December 9, 2007
Whoah! If you're looking for mindless action, THIS is the movie for you.
It's over the top, totally unbelievable, physically impossible, but absolutely brilliant all at the same time.
2 minute version:
Clive Owen eats a lot of carrots, and values his privacy. There are many things that he absolutely hates, and he comes into contact with most of these things when he unwillingly gets involved in a plot to kill a very pregnant young woman. Suddenly faced with a nanny job, he shoots his way out of the frying pan and into the fire, each scenario more draw-dropping-ly impossible than the last. Paul Giamatti plays an unlikely criminal mastermind and Monica Bellucci is under-utilized as the proverbial professional with a heart of gold except she's also got a chest of milk to go with it. Things get political, and hopelessly complicated, and of course there's lots and lots (and lots) of shooting, during any (and I do mean ANY) situation.
Good stuff:
1. Clive Owen
2. Clive Owen's one-liners
3. Clive Owen's stunts
4. The hilariously bad but breathtaking, yet impossible scenarios
5. Paul Giamatti's cell phone calls
6. The body count
7. Clive Owen's nude scene
8. Clive Owen
Bad stuff:
1. Carrots are DEFINITELY not good for some people
2. Not enough Bellucci
3. Plot (nuff said) but then again, we don't need no steenkin' plot
If you can forget that this movie professes to have a plot, you're in for a rollicking good (but extremely violent) time. Definitely a must-see if you're looking for mindless adult entertainment, and don't mind looking at Clive Owen.
Rated: 4.5 stars
Amanda Richards, December 9, 2007
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46 of 50 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
If you've got it, Flaunt it!, January 4, 2008
SHOOT 'EM UP is well named: this is a whompingly good action movie that is as much parody of its genre as it is a good story. It never for a moment takes itself seriously and it is played by a strong cast of top-drawer actors having a terrific time. Writer/director Michael Davis has found his niche and let's hope there will be more dark comedies that are as much fun to watch as this one.
The story is negligible: lone man Smith (Clive Owen at his best) observes a pregnant woman in chased distress, delivers her baby, then finishes off the huge gang of bad guys who are in pursuit, taking the newborn boy to transient safety. Smith finds a lactating prostitute Donna (beautiful Monica Bellucci), takes her from her business of kinky sex and makes her the baby's surrogate mother. A smarmy gangster Hertz (Paul Giamatti in another career forming role), connected to an illicit arms manufacturer Hammerson (Stephen McHattie), is in pursuit of both Smith and the baby for reasons that are finally disclosed: the baby is part of a ring of potential bone marrow donors for an important Senator. The ending is, well, an ending. But it is the getting there that is all the fun.
The dialog is peppered with hilarious one-liners that have a real edge and the methods of the endless killings include several using the carrot that Smith keeps at hand as a weapon. The shootings are fast and impossible but actually hilarious in the choreography. Clive Owen plays the role straight, with a real gift for humor as well as action. Paul Giamatti is a sinister delight and able to match Owens one-liner for one-liner. Monica Bellucci makes her impossible role credible and as always is gorgeous to look at! This is a fast paced, finely written and acted parody - definitely deserving of the comic book title! Grady Harp, January 08
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27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
One Star Reviewers..., get a clue, or at least a sense of humor, May 6, 2008
This review is from: Shoot 'Em Up (Amazon Instant Video)
Yes, this movie is completely over the top. That's the point !!!!!!!!!! The film is a caricature of action films. The action hero is named "Mr. Smith." The hooker has a heart of gold. The body count is enormous! They have a baby in a bulletproof vest!!! I have no idea how anyone could take this movie seriously. You aren't supposed to!!! If you love action movies, and have a good sense of humor, you will enjoy this movie. This movie is great fun. I laughed my *ss off! And Clive Owen is seriously hot!!! (and for the guys.... Monica Bellucci is beautiful.)
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