Director
Navot Papushado
Starring
Karen Gillan, Lena Headey, Carla Gugino, Michelle Yeoh and Angela Bassett
Do you like seeing a bunch of badass women kicking the proverbial out of a bunch of dudes…in slow-mo? Well Gunpowder Milkshake is the film for you. Featuring a killer cast, led by Karen Gillan (Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle) and Lena Headey (Game of Thrones), this action packed dark comedy is quite the pandemic remedy.
In a John Wick-esque world, Gillan plays Sam, the daughter of notorious assassin Scartlett (Headey). Scarlett abandoned Sam when she teen to be raised by a minder from ‘The Firm’ (a group of men coordinating paid hits around the globe), played by Paul Giamatti. Not surprisingly, Sam ends up following in the same line of work as her mother, which is all good and well until she gets a little trigger happy and kills the son of a powerful crime boss. With The Firm turning their back on her, Sam must look to people from her past to take out those who wish her dead before they get the chance to eliminate her.
It takes a little while for the film to find its tone. The first 20 minutes or so seem a little confused as to whether it’s trying to be a neo-noir action, or leaning more into the comedy. Once it decided it wants to be funny though, that’s where it really hits its stride. This is a clever film, and really plays into its feminine brutality (which will no doubt upset a few man-babies…which makes me like it even more). Gillan has once again shown to us that she has an incredible propensity to lead this action/comedy subset of film. She has a subtle humour that goes a long way in this one. One of the real scene stealers though is Chloe Coleman (My Spy, Big Little Lies) as Emily, an 8 year old ‘apprentice’ that gets caught up in Sam’s chaos, but takes to the lifestyle without batting an eye. Carla Gugino, Michelle Yeoh and Angela Bassett all add beautiful depth as the gun toting ‘librarians’ who have been supplying Scarlett and other assassins with weaponry for years.
There isn’t much in the way of a meaningful storyline, but there is a lot to be appreciated in the artistic delivery of the film. The soundtrack is also brilliantly on point, and adds further layers to the experience. Gunpowder Milkshake isn’t a film you need to think too hard about. Just sit back and enjoy it for all its badass frivolity. It really is the kind of film we all need right about now.
Gunpowder Milkshake is in cinemas now.
Moviedoc 
Leave a comment