Guns Akimbo

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Samara Weaving, Rhys Darby, Ned Dennehy, Mark Rowley, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Grant Bowler, Hanako Footman
Directed by: Jason Lei Howden
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Comedy, Thriller
2020

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: An office worker (Daniel Radcliffe) reluctantly gets dragged into an illegal fight-to-the-death sport where he's pitted against a deadly competitor (Samara Weaving).

Review:

Tim: I really like that Daniel Radcliffe is able to make movies like this. He's a talented actor and is more than just Harry Potter. He's made interesting film choices over the past several years and this movie is included in that list. While I couldn't quite bring myself to enjoy Guns Akimbo, it's a decent movie that does a few things right. It might be worth seeing for its novelty, but it's definitely not a must-see film.

Jason Lei Howden does a decent job directing the film. It's not a surprise to me that this was only his second feature directorial effort- it definitely feels like an early-career movie. I wouldn't say Howden shows any brilliance here, but he directs a serviceable film. It does a decent job of character development, which helps when we see so much frenetic action. The movie does tend to value style over substance, so while the flashiness of the film can be fun, it ultimately doesn't have the depths needed to be special.

The movie follows a fairly routine formula- a guy reluctantly gets involved in something way over his head and must dig deep to find the courage to become the best version of himself. Here, this takes the form of a larger-than-life illegal gladiator competition where individuals fight to the death for the streaming public to watch, while avoiding police bent on apprehending them. I suppose it's an interesting idea- it taps into the voyeuristic quality of the general public while also incorporating technological advancements into the story. That aspect feels modern and relatable.

One of the most memorable aspects of the film is that Radcliffe's character has two guns bolted into his hands. This is disturbing and grotesque, which fits the overall tone of the film, while offering a reason why he's forced to continue playing this deadly game. It also affords some hilarious moments as well, as we watch him try to go to the bathroom, open a door, or eat a hotdog. These scenes are ridiculous, but I have to admit, somewhat entertaining. You don't often see something like this depicted on screen.

Radcliffe does a good job in the lead role. He's a likable actor and is always able to form an emotional connection with the audience. Howden does an above-average job of giving us opportunities to identify with and connect with our protagonist. This is stronger than the typical action movie and it helps the film. On the other hand, I was less impressed with Samara Weaving. She has some talent and certainly embraced this zany role, but I never felt a connection with her, nor did I care about her character in the least. I felt very similar about he performance here to the one in Mayhem- just okay, nothing special. The rest of the supporting cast here was fine. I was surprised there weren't really any standouts. Ned Dennehy did some interesting things, I suppose.

This movie really does feel like a cross between a music video and a video game. That might sound flashy and fun, but neither of those are known for their substance. That's ultimately what sinks Guns Akimbo. It's a collection of decent ideas, a strong performance by Radcliffe, some funny moments and some decent action ones. However, it's also too cliched, frenetic bordering on frantic, and in a few ways, predictable. It's the kind of movie you don't mind having seen, but wouldn't be too enthusiastic about revisiting. It offered up some interesting ideas, but the execution is lacking.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 6.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Mayhem, Deathgasm, Swiss Army Man