Killing Gunther

Killing Gunther

(2017)

Directed by: Taran Killam
Written by: Taran Killam
Starring: Taran Killam, Bobby Moynihan, 
Cobie Smulders & Arnold Schwarzenegger
Rating: 14A
Release Date: October 20, 2017

Schwarzenegger & Killam debate gun control in Killing Gunther
Image Source

     It's an odd time to be a filmmaker. With superheroes clogging up the screens at the theatres, it's rare to find something that's not related to some otherworldly heroes that effortlessly save the world time and time again, without a scratch. Of course, there's always exceptions to the rule; It was a welcome change, featuring a broad arcing story and R-rated dialogue, and Wonder Woman was a pro-feminist stab in the heart to the idiotic Marvel and DC films of late. Still, gone are the days where a goofy, avant-garde comedy, an experimental film, or a post-modern dissection of a certain cinematic subject could be seen on a big screen. But there's still hope; Killing Gunther isn't for everyone, but as a die hard Schwarzenegger fan, a huge Saturday Night Live nerd, and fan of comedy in general, it's a wickedly funny love letter to 1980's blood soaked cinema, comedy, and Mr. Olympia himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

     Killing Gunther follows Blake, (Taran Killam), a young, aspirational hitman, who has hired a camera crew to follow him as he attempts to kill the greatest hitman in the game, Gunther, (Arnold Schwarzenegger). Gathering a ragtag group of his best friends and professional killers, (including the always hilarious Bobby Moynihan), the film follows the crew as they watch Blake and his friends make the wrong moves at every turn, and slowly dwindle in numbers as Gunther picks off his would be killers. The aforementioned Moynihan, the underrated Aaron Yoo, Cobie Smulders and a nearly unrecognizable Hannah Simone, (of New Girl fame), round out his crew, and have some of the funniest moments in the film. During his short time on screen, Yoo's character Yong, a hitman who gets violently ill at the sight of blood, is one of the goofiest, and funniest characters in the film, and plays like a long lost Monty Python character. 

    At a crisp 93 minutes, the the running time is perfect. Using the exploit of a "film-within a film" Killam is also able to rectify some of the constraints of a small budget by having the Camera crew be part of the action, and making use of his wife Cobie Smulder's hometown Vancouver, B.C. stand in for bigger, more lavish places. The script is well paced, and still leaves ample room for what I'd presume was some pretty hilarious improvisation. Overall, Killing Gunther is a short, smart, hilarious, offbeat, and wonderfully original film that walks the fine line between exploitation cinema and satire. The only downside is that it's prime character, (who steals the show in the third act), doesn't appear until two thirds of the film's running time. Still, having Schwarzenegger appear when he does allows for a multitude of rapid fire jokes and punchlines that had me gasping for air, (his 'disguises' are some of the silliest things I've seen in ages), and his debut as a country singer at the end of the film had me in stitches. Holding out on Schwarzenegger is a bold move, but it definitely pays off. However, it would have been even better, (and more shocking), had the audience not known Gunther's identity. Yet, in the day and age of big-budget cinema, and trying to broaden your audience in any way possible, I just don't believe that was a possibility - Schwarzenegger's name is still hugely marketable. Which leads me to my final point, (and quite a large digression). 

     Killing Gunther isn't for everyone - some people might find Killam's performance too over the top, the superhuman abilities of Gunther ridiculous, and the limited screen time of Schwarzenegger annoying - yet, that's what separates Gunther apart. It's a labour of love. I'm sure Killam and his crew would love if their project made a lot of money; who doesn't like money? But it's evident that money was never a driving factor in the conception and execution of Gunther. It's by no means a perfect film - but as a work of comedic love and effort by Killam, it's a worthy entry into the cinematic universe, especially with its original elements. Hell, I think it could have been a wonderful HBO miniseries with a lot of potential. But with a current rating of '50%' on Rotten Tomatoes and a hushed release on video on demand, I don't know how likely it is we'll see more from this comedic jambalaya. Film has become a business; like Martin Scorsese said in a recent article for the Hollywood Reporter: 

"The brutal judgmentalism that has made opening-weekend grosses into a bloodthirsty spectator sport seems to have encouraged an even more brutal approach to film reviewing [...] 'aggregators' like Rotten Tomatoes rate a picture the way you'd rate a horse at the racetrack, a restaurant in a Zagat's guide, or a household appliance in Consumer Reports. They have everything to do with the movie business and absolutely nothing to do with either the creation or the intelligent viewing of film. The filmmaker is reduced to a content manufacturer and the viewer to an unadventurous consumer."                                    

 - Martin Scorsese, Hollywood Reporter, October 10th, 2017

    As someone who has called himself a film critic since I began publishing my reviews at 14, I completely agree. When I used to watch Roger Ebert, I knew his background as a critic, his intellectual views, and his taste. He might heap praise on a film I hate, or go to town brutalizing one of my favourites - but he always explained himself, and by knowing his tastes, I could tell if I'd like a film or not. I completely disagree with him on Fight Club and The Postman, but I know why he didn't like those films, and respect his taste. In the era of Rotten Tomatoes, and instant gratification, such subtlety and in depth analysis seems to be gone; relegated to film studies classes or obscure film blogs. Killing Gunther is a film that isn't quite suited for the modern age of film consumerism; but as a man who enjoys the odd completely off the wall comedy - I loved it. You might find it too over the top, too inside baseball, or just too much. That's okay. What a boring world we'd live in if we all had the same taste. Here's hoping Killing Gunther isn't Killam's last attempt on Gunther's life, because he puts on one hell of a show. 

GRANT'S RATING: 3.5/5 STARS

Killing Gunther clip: "Enhance Image"