13 Jul Gunpowder Milkshake Review

GUNPOWDER MILKSHAKE

dir. Navot Papushado, starring Karen Gillan, Lena Headey, Angela Bassett, Michelle Yeoh, Carla Gugino, et al

Sam was only 12 years old when her mother Scarlet, an elite assassin, was forced to abandon her. After this life-altering event, she spends her youth raised by The Firm, the ruthless crime syndicate her mother worked for. Now, 15 years later, Sam has followed in her mother’s footsteps and grown into an assassin of her own. Using her talents to clean up The Firm’s sloppier messes, Sam is deemed as efficient as she is loyal. When a high risk job goes wrong, Sam is forced to choose between The Firm and protecting the life of an 8 year old girl. With a target on her back, Sam has only one chance to survive: reunite with her mother and her lethal associates, The Librarians. What ensues is a wild, entertaining, and oftentimes darkly funny ride as Sam and The Librarians stand up against The Firm.

Gunpowder Milkshake almost feels like it was written specifically to let Karen Gillan cut loose and shine. Breaking her out of the ensembles casts she’s come to be a member of (Jumanji, Guardians of the Galaxy), this movie places her front and center of the camera as Sam the assassin. While action is nothing new to Gillan, this movie gives her the chance to lean fully into it as she shoots, punches, headbutts, and stabs her way through the film. The quieter moments, the ones usually spent with Chloe Coleman’s character, also lets Gillan have a little fun as she plays Sam as the classic stoic, no-nonsense characters of bygone action eras. Lena Headey (who’s also no stranger to action thanks to her days on The Sarah Conner Chronicles) also gives a great performance as Scarlet, Sam’s mother. Chloe Coleman as young Emily is just as good here as he was in last year’s My Spy, playing the comedic beats just as solidly as the dramatic ones. Angela Bassett, Michelle Yeoh, and Carla Gugino round out the ensemble cast of protagonists, each bringing a flavor of bitter, aloof, and sweetness that gives them their own distinctive life and personality.

Directed by Navot Papushado, who also contributed to writing it, the first half of Gunpowder Milkshake oozes with style and panache. Unfortunately, Papushado’s flair and eye for a beautiful shot takes a backseat in the second half of the movie as thing start to ramp up into full on action. Still, with a keen eye for a well composed shot and competently choreographed action scenes, Papushado delivers easily one of the most entertaining films of the year. While a tad trifle long at 114 minutes, it manages to grab hold of the audience with an attention getting opening shot and it does it best to not let go. Visually, the outstanding use of color in the bowling alley scene is a beautiful sequence to behold on a nice large television screen; cinematographer Michael Seresin outdid himself as that action piece and the subsequent fight in the hospital make for the standout scenes in the movie.

Credit must also be given to the production design and costume design. Each set, whether it be the library or the diner, was meticulously crafted with an eye for detail and an eye for staging. Likewise, the costume design (specifically Gillan’s) is immaculate, ranging from her oversized Breakfast At Tiffany’s style hat and trench coat early on to what would become her signature blood-splattered bowling jacket and track pants later. Each librarian is given their own signature look that does well to suit with the personalities: Basset’s more stuffy, stern almost college professor-like suit, Yeoh’s more business causal attire, and Gugino’s traditionally librarian style all accurately reflect each character in their own unique ways.

Overall, Gunpowder Milkshake represents everything fun about summer blockbuster movies: a simple plot, great characters, an almost infinite amount of goons and henchmen, and fun action scenes. While the film will be endlessly compared to other movies of its ilk like John Wick and Atomic Blonde, these comparisons are unnecessary; Gunpowder Milkshakes stands on its own as a slick action film with enough heart, humor, and heroics that it differentiates itself from the crowd. A perfect movie to watch on a Friday night with friends and drinks, Gunpowder Milkshake is sure to be a delight to anyone who’s a fan of the action genre. Gunpowder Milkshake streams on Netflix Wednesday, July 14th.

Review by Darryl Mansel