Film review: Gunpowder Milkshake (15)

If John Wick is your kind of film, Gunpowder Milkshake is going to be right up your street.

Brimming with A-list talent, the Sky Original Film – which is also being released at cinemas – always looked like, at the very least, it would be a whole lot of fun.

And, despite its over-the-top world and a slightly disappointing ending, the Navot Papushado directed ‘shoot-em-up’ is certainly worth a watch on Sky Movies.

With the always impressive Karen Gillan backed up by Lena Headey, Angela Bassett, Michelle Yeoh and Carla Gugino, as well as a solid outing from Paul Giamatti and a villainous showing from Ralph Ineson, there’s plenty of star power.

The plot may not be the most original and the character building a little lacking, but the action is relentless and the bodies pile high.

Gillan’s character Sam works as a hitman for a dark organisation dubbed The Firm, who aren’t overly explained – but it’s clear they run the criminal world in this setting.

However, when a job goes wrong she falls into the crosshairs of her employers and Ineson’s rival criminal organisation.

The job throws her together with the orphaned Emily (Chloe Coleman), with the pair forging an enjoyable relationship that fleshes Sam out somewhat.

Coleman is a surprise highlight of the film, giving it some heart that it perhaps lacks elsewhere.

With her firm contact Nathan (Giamatti) no longer able to protect Sam, she is reunited with her estranged mother Scarlet (Headey) and ‘aunties’ Anna (Bassett), Florence (Yeoh) and Madeleine (Gugino).

With bad guys galore on their tail, it’s a case of kill or be killed for the women as the wage war against the criminal underworld.

The highlights here are the extensive action sequences, which all deliver in spectacular fashion.

Much like the John Wick world, there are locations tailored for assassins and they make for inventive action.

Gillan is a one-woman wrecking crew at times, but it’s when the cast team up that the bigger set-pieces kick in, most notably in a library and later in a diner that has a no-guns policy.

Despite the positives, I did feel a little short-changed as the credits rolled. Whether a sequel will deal with the threads that remain dangling, who knows?

But it felt like there was one more fight the women could have taken on here.

With the majority of the cast delivering the goods and Gillan a fine lead, it’s worth noting that Gugino produces an enjoyable performance, offering plenty of warmth in a relatively small role.

There’s nothing not to like here if action is your thing, but don’t be expecting great writing or strong character arcs.

Voice Verdict: 7/10 (watched on Sky Movies)
+ Great cast led by Gillan
+ Fight/action sequences are excellent
– Ending a little disappointing
– Slack character building

SHOWTIMES
Boston’s West End Cinema (Fri, Sept 24 to Thurs, Sept 30)

JAMES BOND: NO TIME TO DIE (12A)
00.01am (Thu), 10am (Thu), 11am (Thu), noon (Thu), 2pm (Thu), 3pm (Thu), 4pm (Thu), 5.30pm (Thu), 6pm (Thu), 7pm (Thu), 8pm (Thu), 8.30pm (Thu)

MANY SAINTS OF NEWARK (15)
12.40pm (Sat/Sun/Wed), 3.20pm (Fri/Sat/Sun), 6pm (daily), 8.40pm (daily)

MALIGNANT (18)
8.30pm (Sat/Sun/Wed)

SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS (12A)
11.30pm (Sat/Sun), 2pm (Thu) 2.30pm (Sat/Sun/Wed), 5.30pm (not Thu), 8.20pm (not Thu)

CANDYMAN (18)
6pm (not Thu)

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS (U)
10.30am (Sat/Sun)

FREE GUY (12A)
12.30pm (Sat/Sun/Wed), 3.25pm (Fri/Sat/Sun/Wed), 6pm (Sat/Sun/Mon/Wed)

AINBO: SPIRIT OF THE AMAZON (PG)
12.15pm (Sat/Sun)

SMALL WORLD (18)
8.15pm (not Thu)

THE PAW PATROL MOVIE (U)
10am (Sat/Sun), 2.15pm (Sat/Sun)

SPACE JAM: A NEW LEGACY (U)
10am (Sat), 12.45pm (Sat/Sun), 3.15pm (Sat/Sun)

KIDS’ CLUB
THE CROODS 2 (PG)
10.15am (Sat/Sun)

SILVERSCREEN
SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS (12A)
11.30am (Wed)

SUBTITLED PERFORMANCE
MANY SAINTS OF NEWARK (15)
8.30pm (Mon)

PARENT AND BABY
SPACE JAM: A NEW LEGACY (U)
10.30am (Wed)