Movie Review
This generic John Wick wannabe is nothing short of explosive, making for a tepid, forgettable thriller that's all style and no substance.
It's a shame, because Gunpowder Milkshake itself has some great ideas. The premise itself feels like a mix of Permissing Young Woman, John Wick, and Kingsman. However, Netflix's latest film takes the worst aspects of all three films and squeezes them in with a sprinkling of Ghostbusters 2016.
Reboot
As an all-female reboot of this beloved franchise, Gunpowder Milkshake takes the safe and unimaginative route of portraying all the women as good guys and all the men as dull, bad guys.
At the center of this black-and-white conflict is Samantha, who works at the "firm" after her mother Scarlett disappeared 15 years ago. Sam now took his mother's place as a ruthless assassin. Unfortunately, a botched mission leads to the accidental killing of crime boss Jim McAlester's son. As expected, his father is out for revenge.
To make matters worse, Samantha is tasked with looking after 8-year-old Emily while her father, David, is taken to the hospital.
What follows is a blood-soaked crusade as Samantha battles disposable thugs, eventually teaming up with the Brotherhood (a trio of librarians/assassins) and a familiar face from the past.
Characters
The story here is generic to say the least and the character writing is thoroughly poor. Most of the supporting characters lack any depth, and you'll spot a twist a mile away. Unlike other action movies in the genre like Kill Bill or John Wick, this one can't hold back on its action to save it.
The sets on display are awkwardly choreographed, poorly edited and just plain awkward. There's a scene at a bowling alley where three men are each standing around waiting in line to trade shots with Samantha. Another time, an entire army attacks the library with guns - not bothering to flank the ground first or engage their wits.
The only imaginative combat here comes from the hospital scene where Samantha's arms are paralyzed. While it's still haphazardly shot, the action is at least a little intense and uses some imagination - something that this movie sorely lacks.
It also doesn't help that the humor is so inappropriate that it lessens the tension these scenes can create. To make matters worse, there are many moments where the actors awkwardly stand around to read their lines. Don't get me wrong, the actors do a good job here when they talk, but it feels more like a B-movie than a $30 million project.
Good Looking Film
One thing Gunpowder Milkshake gets right is its aesthetics. This is a good looking movie. The neon lights, vibrant colors and overall set design are all fantastic. The soundtrack is equally lovely, with a little recognizable motif added to the score to complete the tone. It's really great stuff, but unfortunately it doesn't fit the film and its story.
There are many revenge thrillers out there and Gunpowder Milkshake is definitely one of them. Behind the flashy style on offer is a film that's tired and doesn't have much to say other than the cliche: “Girls are good. Boys are bad." In the end, the style of the film is good, but the substance is bad.