Almost any movie fan you speak to would associate Kevin James with his starring role in Paul Blart, Mall Cop, despite the fact that some of his more recent movies have removed him from that naive and innocent stereotype. Those films were less than mainstream, however, but James’s role in Guns Up thrusts him unapologetically into a new mould, and one which may take some by surprise.

• Apart from being an actor, Kevin James has line of clothing called King of Jeans.
• His co-star Melissa Leo, who plays the mafiosa code-named “Michael”, won an Academy Award for her role in 2010’s The Fighter, back when the Oscars still meant something.
• Catch Tat Wolfen’s entertainment commentary on The Sandton Times Hour, every Monday at 7pm on 91.9FM.
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Most people booking to see this film will probably be expecting Kevin James in his goofy Paul Blart persona, so please allow me, upfront, to disabuse anyone of this notion. Here, he plays Ray Hayes, a guy who’s more serious and a lot tougher. He’d started off as a regular family dad who needed to up his income appreciably. Along the way, he’s persuaded, however, to become an underworld debt collector, under the command of a shrewish old mob boss (Melissa Leo). He tells his family that he’s a cop, and his wife (played by Christina Ricci) naively swallows the deception.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JyE2tuSt3M

It must be said that it’s shocking – even alarming – to witness, in the film’s (numerous) action sequences, the once-Paul-Blart kicking villainous ass in a spectacularly unforgiving fashion. I’m sure that many of us have fond memories of seeing the Blart character leaning earnestly into his Segway, as he sought to right the ‘serious violations’ of mall shoppers. This time around, however, the playground is a hundred times rougher, and the players are merciless.

The Puerto Rican-born character actor Luiz Guzmán was never a pretty face, bless him, so he’s destined to forever play thugs in Hollywood movies – which he does here with his customary grim determination, adding colour to the film. You can almost hear the casting director’s voice: “We’re looking for someone to play an ugly gangster – here; you’d be just perfect!” It would be nice, just for once, however, to see him playing a grandad, or some similar caring-and-sharing role.

Although James is super-tough in this movie, we are also given the opportunity of seeing him as a loving husband and dad who will do almost anything to ensure that his family is happy and cared for. The chemistry between James and his character’s family members is quite special, revealing hitherto unexplored facets of the performer. His scenes with his snotty and superior teenaged daughter Siobhán (Keana Marie), and nerdy little son Henry (Leo Easton Kelly), whose face is always buried in books, come across as beautifully real.

So yeah; maybe the true, inner, Kevin James really is a softy! In his own quiet way, young Henry is a scene-stealer, and one is constantly concerned that the movie could take a John Wick-esque turn, and the little lad gets taken or harmed by the bad guys. But of course, I’m not here to give spoilers.

Tonally, the film wavers, and never seems to ‘pick a lane’. I frequently found myself wondering about what sort of film I was experiencing. It also felt a tad longer than its 90-odd minutes. That said, if you’re looking for an undemanding night’s entertainment and some good, dark laughs (although it isn’t an out-and-out comedy), you’ll probably come away from the experience with a smile.

Tat Wolfen is a multimedia communicator, entertainment commentator and leisure journalist. Tune in for Tat’s razor-sharp takes on the latest on stage and screen, every week on The Sandton Times Hour – Mondays at 7pm on 91.9FM or on a fine selection of the world’s leading podcast platforms. [Disclaimer: Views expressed by reviewers/contributors are their own, and do not necessarily reflect those of The Sandton Times and its ownership or management.]

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