(spoiler free)
The bullet count is high but are the laughs low? Hitting video on demand in April is gun-toting debut outing from director Taran Killam, ‘Killing Gunther’. It’s definitely a silly concept and one that almost confidently fills a ninety minute run time without overstaying its welcome.
Gunther is known only as the worlds greatest hitman, but on his rise he’s rubbed a few other professionals up the wrong way and now they’re teaming up to try and track him down and kill him. Leading the pack is Blake (Taran Killam), with extremist Izzat (Amir Talai), explosives expert Donnie (Bobby Moynihan) and other odd contract killers documented by a camera crew.
This mockumentary style does work for this film and adds a kooky level of humour as we witness a rag-tag of hitmen and women try and often fail to reach their desired target. Generally speaking, this film takes on an amusing idea and executes it in a vaguely amusing manner but there are certain times when the documentary aspect becomes dull and dare I say lazy. I only say this as it’s such an easy road to traipse down, in having a multitude of characters speak to camera, that’s hardly inspired or massively engaging.
Killam directs and writes this screwball-esque comedy with an eye for the strangeness and visual run of jokes that continue from inception to curtain call, for example a poison master’s fear of blood becomes a fairly funny comic note that is kept up with. He’s clearly a competent director for his first feature, with an evident sense of building sketch humour that’s surely come from his SNL (Saturday Night Live) days. It is with that background though, that this movie feels like a story less suited for a full length outing and more for a short film.
Obviously the Austrian machine that is Arnie acts in this film and he is the titular role, which only goes to make the film begin to drag as we wait for him to appear. There is no fun to be had in the mystery of who Gunther is, because it’s clear from the beginning, thanks to the poster and credits that indicate Arnold’s involvement. Luckily, once he does rock up, the film truly comes into its own and ignites with a funnier streak and much needed energy.
Taran Killam shows off his somewhat eccentric, suave and yet often pathetic character well enough that you both don’t love or loathe him, he’s interesting enough to watch. Arnold Schwarzenegger seems to be having an absolute ball, hamming up practically every line which is fantastic and if you’ve always wished to hear him sing a country ditty then you’re in luck! Hannah Simone is arguably the most bad ass of the group as Sanaa; daughter of a legendary hitman. She doesn’t really have odd quirks herself but shines as a capable weapon wielding pro. Allison Tolman and Ryan Gaul are let down by thinly carved Russian sibling characteristics and don’t really get to do much in the film at all.
This is an alright film, it’s amusing and it’s sort of fun watching all these actors have a blast but sadly we as an audience don’t share that riotous enjoyment. I wouldn’t switch off ‘Killing Gunther’ if I were to see it somewhere else, as it’s entertaining to a point but the great, crazy turn from the one time Governor of California can’t stop this being a dumb movie.
Written by Troy Balmayer
Rating – 5/10
Question: What is your favourite Arnold Schwarzenegger film?
(Leave your answers in the comments section below!)
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Thanks to Strike Media for screening access
‘Killing Gunther’ is available on VoD ( iTunes, Amazon, Rakuten TV, Play, Microsoft, Sky Store, TalkTalk, Vubiquity, BT) from 2nd April.
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