Review: Gunpowder Milkshake

Gunpowder Milkshake is like a hundred other movies you’ve seen in which dozens of men are murdered in dozens of creative ways by just a few heroic characters. This movie fits that genre. With one exception. The heroic characters are women. It will be streamed on Netflix.

Gunpowder Milkshake is not a great movie. It might not even be a good movie. But it is a joy to watch. I’ve seen dozens (decades) of movies where men kill with impunity. Blood spurts from the heads in slow motion, chests of blood flow, bones break, dead guys lie on the floor. I really liked seeing women as the ones who killed the whole wealth of bad guys. In addition, they rescued the innocent 8 3/4-year-old Emily (Chloe Coleman) who got entangled with them.

Sam (Karen Gillan) and Scarlet (Lena Headey) are the first two women we see. They are mother and daughter. They talk in a restaurant, drink a milkshake and don’t see each other for 15 years.

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There’s a lot going on in this eatery, which is carefully styled and beautiful. Everything in this film, from the sets to the costumes and the fight scenes, is stylized. Everything feels like a tribute or a parody – or sometimes both.

The other women are Florence (Michelle Yeoh), Anna May (Angela Bassett) and Madeleine (Carla Gugino). These three run a peculiar library where the books are hollowed out and filled with weapons or cash or various other items that can be useful in combat. These three women and Sam are all mad at Scarlet for being gone for 15 years. She left them lonely and bereft and motherless.

Of course, all 5 are skilled and trained killers. They can kill you with a gun, a knife, a hammer, an ax, a chain, a giant tooth, a car or their fists. They are good.

An entire army of bad men (mostly Russians) is commanded by a unit called The Firm. Nathan (Paul Giamatti) leads this group. He sends his troops after Sam and Emily. Soon Scarlet comes out of hiding to help her daughter. Then the three librarians join in.

The plot isn’t much. Chases, fights, escape attempts. It was especially nice to see how the women rule in the fight scenes. The women were full of plans and preparedness, which made for comical situations. Navot Papushado directed.

I loved the way Florence could handle a chain. I thought Scarlet and Anna May had been a couple in the past. The music was well chosen, especially the song by Janis Joplin. If you are a fan of hyper violent movies starring men then I urge you to give the women a shot in this one.

Here’s the trailer.

Have you watched it yet? What was your favorite part?