3561. Gun Shy (2000)

Starring: Liam Neeson, Sandra Bullock, Oliver Platt

Director: Eric Blakeney

Running Time: 101 mins

Gun Shy is an American film about a struggling drug officer who is tasked with infiltrating the mafia, all the while discovering a new side to life when he meets a free-spirited young woman.

While Gun Shy aims to bring a bit of fluffy romantic flair in the central love story between Liam Neeson and Sandra Bullock as its principal crime story unfolds, this film is more of a confused and dull mess than an engaging watch with an appeal for a variety of audiences.

For the most part, there’s nothing overtly terrible about Gun Shy. With a few strong actors in the leading roles and a story that’s got more than just one stroke to it, this at least isn’t a throwaway Hollywood film that puts no effort in.

But if you’re looking for a film to really entertain and engage you throughout, then this isn’t one to watch. Despite its strengths on the surface, Gun Shy is a really rather boring watch from start to finish, as it struggles to utilise any of its characters or central story arcs to bring captivating drama to the table.

While Liam Neeson’s character certainly has a lot going on in his life – from his personal struggles to his task at hand and his blossoming romance with Sandra Bullock – each of those strains feels rather disconnected and disjointed, struggling to come together as a cohesive story that really dives deep into the character’s psyche.

Beyond that, there’s not much else that Gun Shy has to offer. Its romance isn’t ever as sweet as it thinks it is, and its crime drama is never as gritty or tense. For the most part, it’s a film that seems to promise a lot, but struggles to do anything with that. So, that’s why I’m giving Gun Shy a 5.5 overall.