Review: Killing Gunther


Taran Killam stars as one of a team of assassins (Hannah Simone and explosives expert Bobby Moynihan among them) being followed around by a documentary crew as they try to rub out the elusive title hitman (Arnold Schwarzenegger). Cobie Smulders plays Killam’s ex who hooked up with Gunther afterwards.



A potentially amusing idea and stunt casting are completely obliterated by a lazy and overly familiar structure in this 2017 mockumentary. Written, directed by, and starring former “SNL” non-entity Taran Killam, if ever there was a story/idea that deserved to be told in the fashion of TV’s “The Office” or a film like “This is Spinal Tap”…it’s not this film. The format is beyond played out, and having the subject be about the assassination profession this time isn’t enough originality. The choice of genre/structure seriously limits the project creatively. Killam could’ve potentially still gotten away with it though…if it were the slightest bit funny. Sadly, despite star cameo player Arnold Schwarzenegger seemingly enjoying himself, humour is in nearly negative supply here. That surprises me a little, because even just looking at former “SNL” comedian Bobby Moynihan generally makes me giggle. However, Killam just isn’t a funny guy, and he’s playing triple-threat here, sinking the film single-handedly.



Whatever the potential was in terms of making fun of the assassination caper, in execution plays like a sub-par “SNL” sketch stretched to deadly feature length. I won’t deny there’s a few chuckles in this, but there’s no way this should’ve been turned into a film. Just as Killam should never be allowed to play the lead in a film or TV show ever again (Sadly, I think he headlines a TV show right now about single parents). There’s a cute bit where Killam finds out you can’t enhance an image like they do on hi-tech cop shows and movies. But that’s about it. Schwarzenegger doesn’t turn up until the end, and game or not he can’t save the film. Casting him as an elusive hitman just wasn’t a good idea. Next time, start with Arnold and forget the “SNL” sketch bullshit.



A virtual laugh-free zone this cheap action-comedy mockumentary falters due to its played out format, a dreadful filmmaker/star and an almost complete lack of any humour whatsoever. No wonder this one had no buzz around it.



Rating: D+

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