Kill Me Later

Despite being made in 2001, this movie is basically about life in times in the '90s when Gen X culture took over the world. Everyone in this movie is so materialistic and selfish. Our heroin Shawn (Selma Blair) find's herself disappointed by life in every way and decides to jump from the roof top of the bank building she works in. As she finishes her last cigarette, a bank robber Charlie (Max Beesley) comes up to her and tells her that if she doesn't cooperate, he's gonna kill her :-) not knowing that that's EXACTLY what she was trying to do. There's sort of a deal struck between the two that if Shawn helps Charlie get away by becoming his hostage, he'll help her out by killing her later (hence the title of this movie).

The funny part of this movie is that a supposed rogue Charlie is actually a nice guy compared to the status quo people around Shawn who're all morally bankrupt. Shawn and Charlie decides to take the leap together (no pun intended) and try out for a new life while other people gets their just comeuppances. Selma Blair is at her best in her role as Shawn, and brings the goods to the table in one of the best movie of her career. A feel good movie '90s style.

"Kill Me Later" is a romantic comedy about a suicidal woman (Blair) who reluctantly takes up with a bank robber on the lam (Beesley) if he promises to shoot her once he's made his escape. What follows is busy enough with side plots, action, and snappy patter to keep the waning eye lid open in spite of the movie's many flaws including unnecessary visual effects, loose ends, Kodak moments which don't work, and a speed bump at the midway mark. Okay for sofa spuds. (C+)

I stumbled upon this movie by mistake and was actually presently suprised by it. I have always thought Selma Blair was a quite good actress and she was very convincing in this. Even though at some points in the movie it gets a bit dull and repetative, generally your attention is kept.

It starts off as a comedy, then it becomes a crime comedy, before turning into a romantic crime comedy. If you liked Bandits or Birthday girl, Kill me later is another film I'd recommend, even though it is probably harder to find. Actually, I could recommend the film to any one who is in the mood for some light entertainment without too much sex or violence, but one that is not too sissy or sappy either. It's not great, but it is definitely likable.

Life isn't going so good for loan officer Shawn Holloway. On the day she decides to jump off the roof of her bank building, there is a robbery that goes south, thirty floors below her. One of thee robbers escapes, and takes Shawn hostage. She agrees to cooperate if he kills her once they are in the clear. that idea doesn't go so well either, because he is (for lack of a better cliché) chicken. Thus the two continue their run from the law, and on the way, Shawn starts to fall for this quirky robber.

Although the story isn't super extensive and its dimensions are of middling depth and detail, it gets you going, and you sort of end up caring. Selma Blair is not much of an actress at all, and much of her work is torpid, but this is a fairly good role for her as an average American emo, who starts to get something out of life when a few cute story contrivances come her way and take her on a crazy journey.

Like all films (even great ones) there is room for improvement, in Kill me Later, but the film is strait forward, to the point, and cute/quirky enough to be worth a watch, if by chance this relatively unknown feature finds its way into your life.

This was clearly a work that was low budget and yes perhaps a little rushed - but I get a bit annoyed at reviewers here who whinge on about script development for a film that clearly had a hard time getting any kind of funding at all. Script development is hard to get in even the biggest budgeted films just look at Lord of the Rings if you want to see underdeveloped characters but strangely not to many people shooting that down.

That said this is a nice, gentle film about a bank robbery that is not trying to be Reservoir Dogs or Lock Stock, and I don't think it is so much underdeveloped as less violent. The writer and director have stuck to their own vision and have produced something that they should be proud of for a first feature.

The performances are good and the script and directorial choices are clever and interesting without trying to scream at the audience "Look at me I'm an Auteur"

Certainly worth a look and a good video movie for females who are tired of seeing the male dominated violent heist films.