The screenplay has been kicking around Hollywood for more than a decade and, along it’s unceremonious path, everyone from Zac Efron to Olivian Munn to Helen Hunt was attached to it at one time or another.
Even after it was finally filmed, with a far less celebrated cast, it took a while to find a distributor. This scenario always raises questions: why was it so difficult to get made and find a distributor?
The answer is usually because the film isn’t very good and likely won’t find a big audience.
Die in a Gunfight was one of those films. It’s journey from script to screen has been such a long time coming, that you almost feel obligated to see it out of morbid curiosity.
The truth is, it’s not horrible. You might even find it a mild distraction to catch at home, though it’s also getting a simultaneous theatrical release on July 16th.
Lovers Ben (Diego Boneta) and Mary (Alexandra Daddario) are from two warring families, whose enmity goes back for generations. You’ll recall a similar set-up from a little ditty called Romeo and Juliet.
After years spent apart, thanks to their respective meddling families, they are about to reignite their love as well as a set of explosive circumstances that range from the comical to the extremely violent.
The two leads have an undeniable chemistry and the action sequences are quite good – when they happen.
But it’s a slow set-up and a slightly sluggish midsection before things pick up for a satisfying third act that brings together the film’s strong suits: violence, humor and romance. The movie looks great, has some stylized, snarky animation that does a good job setting the scene, but only a few characters that make any impact at all. For all its visual panache, the cast is rather milquetoast, save those few.
A mixed bag from me. 2 out of 4 Stars. It could’ve been a lot worse, I wish it’d been a lot better.
Die in a Gunfight is rated R and will be released On Demand and in Theaters, July 16th, Rated R for violence and language.
