What happens when a top assassin accidentally kills the wrong person, and somehow winds up with an 8 year old tag along? This is one of the questions that needs to be answered in Gunpowder Milkshake. This movie which stars Karen Gilliam and Lena Headey attempts to answer this and other questions, such as when is a “library” the best place to go for “books” that are way more than their titles. The film also stars Angela Bassett, Michelle Yeoh, Carla Gugino and Paul Giamatti.
This movie plays out like a stylized John Wick film with female leads, and that is not a bad thing. Female-Centric action films are all the rage these days, as a way to show females can be “bad ass” leads, just as well as their male counterparts. The neon lighting, and semi “bullet time” action scenes, are a good way to show off the cast, and highlight the absurdity of the action sequences. This is not a serious film, and it doesn’t try to be one. The cast and director know they are there to “have fun”, and push the envelope of “popcorn entertainment”. Karen Gilliam who plays Sam, and Lena Headey who plays her estranged mom Scarlett, are the perfect example of a daughter following in mom’s footsteps, even though Mom never wanted that for her(which is kinda hard, when you leave her in the care of a group of assassins called “the firm”).
If you are looking for “Hollywood classic noir”, this is NOT the film for it. If you are looking for a fun film to spend a couple of hours on the couch while watching Netflix, this is the film for you. Don’t look for “great” scenery chewing scenes, or dialog, but stay for the expertly choreographed fight scenes, both with, and without guns.
They have already announced plans for a sequel for the film.
3.5 out of 5 stars.
