Gunmen

This film is certainly uneven, and borrows from obvious Sergio Leone westerns, but you should find it entertaining. Worth seeing, if for no other reason, to see Patrick Stewart playing a crippled south american druglord who buries alive his disloyal wife in his opening scene. Another scene that will have you shaking your head in disbelief is when two main characters shoot each other in the leg in an attempt at humor.

If you've read any of my other movie reviews, you'll know by now that i'm a massive Christopher Lambert fan. Gunmen see's Lambert team up with Mario Van Peebles who also stars in Highlander 3 with Lambert, in the same year. Lambert is a drug smuggling rebel with a soft side and Peebles is a tough cop. They team when they hear about 400 million dollars which are hidden in a boat somewhere, so they set out to find it. In their quest there are laughs, thrills and spills galore. But the two of them don't exactly get on together, they are like two little kids argueing.

For a low budget movie it's pretty good. I would say it was one of Lamberts better movies but not as good as Highlander and Fortress.

If you like explosive action and guns galore, this is the one for you.

Silly in parts but good fun.

I rated it 7/10

GUNMEN is a brilliant action movie, and of course very funny. Once again, the great Mr. Denis Leary shows he has the chops to be a great screen villain. As with JUDGMENT NIGHT, he excels as a wonderfully nasty bad guy.

As for our leads, Mario Van Peebles and Christopher Lambert work brilliantly together as they joke and shoot on the way to find some laundered drug money. I don't know what everyone's problem with Lambert is because he's been brilliant in every film I've seen him in. I hated what I saw of HIGHLANDER 3, but that was just because the film sucked, not because of Lambert.

Strangely, there's no love interest for our heroes. But that's no problem. Patrick Stewart pops up in what is basically an extended cameo as Leary's boss. He's okay, but I'm glad that Leary is the main villain of the piece.

GUNMEN does not disappoint as there is non-stop action and side-splitting comedy on offer. Enjoy.

Mario Van Peebles is cast as Cole Parker, a DEA agent in Mexico, who busts kooky smuggler Dani Servigo (Christopher Lambert) out of prison. Why has he done this? Because Dani's brother Karl was an associate of drug kingpin Loomis (Patrick Stewart) who absconded with the kingpins' $400 million fortune, and he thinks that Karl may have given Dani information as to the whereabouts of the money. Cole is also on a mission to find out who killed his father. Meanwhile, Loomis has sent an even worse bad guy, hired gun Armor O'Malley (Denis Leary), after the two of them.

"Gunmen" was an early screenwriting credit for future director Stephen Sommers, who went on to make big studio efforts like "Deep Rising", "The Mummy" (1999), and "The Mummy Returns". Here, you could already see that action and violence with a generous dose of humour was part of his style. The director of this one is Deran Sarafian, whose future credits include "Terminal Velocity" and lots of TV work. Deran casts his father, veteran filmmaker Richard Sarafian (best known for "Vanishing Point" himself), in a brief role as Van Peebles' superior.

Mostly, this is routine stuff, albeit reasonably funny, action-packed, and very swift (it clocks in at 92 minutes). The soundtrack is enjoyable, and the flick does have a suitably gritty look going for it. It's also full of violence, but not that much actual gore.

The main value lies in this cast, although Stewart doesn't get to leave much of an impression. He's been better utilized in other projects. Leary really is the main villain of the piece, and he's in fine form. The enticing Brenda Bakke is quite easy to watch as one of Leary's gang. Van Peebles is fine, but doesn't have a particularly great character to play. Lambert gets to have more fun; he always seems to be at his best when he gets to play an off the wall role. He and Van Peebles do make for an entertaining team. Kadeem Harrison has his moments as a talkative pilot, but much like Stewart, Sally Kirkland is wasted in a brief part as a gun runner. You may also recognize Robert Harper, who was crate monster fodder in "Creepshow", as a DEA agent. A handful of rap stars appear onscreen performing (Doctor Dre, Ed Lover, Eric B. & Rakim, etc.). Deran Sarafian himself has a small role as Bishop.

"Gunmen" entertains adequately for action-movie fans, with some standout moments along the way, such as a recurring motif of characters being buried alive.

Six out of 10.

Drug Baron Peter Loomis (Patrick Stewart) has his $400 million dollar drug fortune stolen. Loomis sends O'Malley (Denis Leary), a ruthless killer to find his money. Cole Parker (Mario Van Peebles), a DEA Agent is on a south American mission of justice and revenge. He is sent to find his father's killer. Cole busts an eccentric smuggler (Christopher Lambert) to help Cole to find the smuggler's brother money that he has stolen from Loomis. But O'Malley wants to find the fortune for himself. In a Cat and Mouse game, Cole and the smuggler are forced to help each other to find the missing fortune trying to avoid, O'Malley and his men.

This is an fun, action-packed thriller with an fun sense of humor. This oddball cop/buddy movie with touches of the spaghetti western is directed by Deran Sarafian (Death Warrant, The Road Killer, Terminal Velocity). The film is weird and uneven but it is a fun movie to watch. Lambert is hilarious as a whacked out smuggler. This film was a Box Office disappointment. This little seen action film might have a cult following. If you love action films with something a little different. This is for you. Screenplay by Stephen Sommers (Deep Rising, The Mummy, The Mummy Returns). Panavision. (****/*****).