Spoilers need to return some books.

This is one where the clue is in the title. This is literally an action candy film. There’s nothing wrong with that, and the movie knows what it is. There is potential for some depth, but let’s leave that discussion for later. All in all, you will get plenty over-the-top comic book style action. The idea is to watch this film with maximum suspension of disbelief and don’t question its movie logic too closely. The focus is on fun, not realism.

(Credit: Netflix)

Gunpowder Milkshake (2021) was directed by Navot Papushado who also wrote the screenplay with Ehud Lavski. Coldblooded and lethal, Sam (Karen Gillan) finishes a job but is forced to kill a ton of thugs just to get away clear. Her boss, Nathan (Paul Giamatti) is not too happy but needs her for another job which should be a breeze. Unfortunately, the man she hunts has a young daughter named Emily (Chloe Coleman) who has been kidnapped. Sam will have to get involved, rescue the girl and get all the help she can get to stay alive. This will involve finding her estranged mother Scarlet (Lena Headey) and enlisting the help of three very unusual librarians.

Sometimes, you’re forgiven to put style over substance. Yes, this film owes a lot of other films before it, and I see some influences from John Wick in the world-building as we meet the three kick-ass librarian ladies Madeleine (Carla Gugino), Anna May (Angela Bassett) and Florence (Michelle Yeoh). Don’t worry, it’s not just a cameo. You will see them getting their hands dirty soon enough. And yes, Yeoh gets to actually do some fighting in this one.

Karen Gillan’s Pam is definitely the star of the movie, but I have to say Lena Headey’s Scarlet steals every scene she’s in. The typical atypical hit-mom and a force to be reckoned with, Headey’s scowl-smile almost deserves her own screen time. Paul Giamatti doesn’t do much with Nathan, but then again he knows what role he’s playing and doesn’t mind playing it.

I think the cinematography is top shelf. The movie is dripping with color. These are really high production sets and this feature really uses them to the fullest advantage. It’s a beautiful film. The fights are decently choreographed, although over-the-top is the name of the game. It doesn’t make any sense to jump in the air in front of armed killers with guns blazing but it looks really cool in slow motion. Actually, the movie does overuse the slow motion gunfights to the tune of classic rock ballads to the point of doing perhaps one too many.

Recommended for fun. You’ll notice incongruences and plot holes as well as lazy writing… But this movie is not here to dazzle you with plot. It knows what sort of film it is and it’s here to just entertain you. It’s beautiful to look at and too outrageous to bother with accuracy. Don’t expect much depth or responsible firearm safety, this is not a serious movie. We all need one of those from time to time, seriously. Worth a watch.

That will do for now.