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"Under
the 'Gun'"
by Scott Mantz
"Gun Shy"
Liam Neeson, Oliver Platt
Directed by Eric Blakeney
Like most people,
I've always felt that watching the coming attractions was the best
part about going to the movies. Their fast, furious, and sometimes
funny, and they usually contain the best scenes of the film.
Obviously, there's
a lot riding on these movie trailers, as the audience will invariably
determine whether or not they're going to pay their hard-earned
money to see what's being advertised. Hopefully, they'll be impressed,
but if not, then "Houston, we've got a problem". That's how I felt
when I saw the trailer for "Gun Shy". At first, I thought "wait
for cable", but then I thought "what the heck--I'll give it the
benefit of the doubt". Well, that'll teach me not to second-guess
my instincts. Marred by toilet humor and an erratic story, "Gun
Shy" is one mob movie that's better left sleeping with the fishes.
Charlie Mayough
(Liam Neeson) has a serious gastro-intestinal problem brought on
by his stressful job as a federal cop. He's at the edge of his rope,
but he has one last money laundering operation to expose before
he can walk away to pursue the house of his dreams. While undercover,
he develops an odd friendship with Fulvio (Oliver Platt), a mobster
with some emotional issues of his own. He's tired of living the
violent gangster lifestyle and would be much happier focusing on
his gardening hobby. Charlie joins a self-help group for men, falls
in love with a gastroenterologist's nurse (Sandra Bullock), and
struggles to keep it all together before he snaps completely.
After a string
of heavy emotional roles, Liam Neeson lightens up as the sympathetic
cop. While the notion of the "stressed-out tough guy" routine isn't
anything that we haven't seen done to death ("Analyze This", "The
Sopranos"), Neeson makes the most of his screen time with a few
funny moments that make the film somewhat bearable. The moment he
finds himself in a precarious situation, he has to find a bathroom
right away.
Oliver Platt's
talents are underutilized, but he is amusing as the softy who's
threatening side is counterbalanced by his sensitive side. He's
sick of the whole Italian mobster clichÈ and would love to see the
tomatoes in his garden simply turn red. When Sandra Bullock finally
shows up, her presence is like an anchor to the rest of the characters,
who are all obviously off their rockers.
After watching
the movie trailer for "Gun Shy", I should have known better. The
laughs come few and far between, and by the last third of the film,
they don't even come at all. The story and characters are not very
engaging, and you find yourself looking at your watch, waiting for
the film to end. It also leaves you feeling shy about attending
any more sympathetic mob movies. Enough already.
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