"What's this rumor I've caught wind of, about you contemplating quitting the game?" Empire Ent. has unveiled an official trailer for the action-packed comedy film titled "Guns Up," helmed by director Edward Drake, whose credits include "American Siege," "Gasoline Alley," and the "Detective Knight" trilogy. Despite featuring Kevin James, a US release date has yet to be confirmed. It appears that European audiences will be the first to witness this flick this summer, explaining the early rollout of the first trailer and accompanying posters.
The story unfolds around Ray Hayes, a family man and former cop who now moonlights as a henchman for the mob. When a job goes awry, he has just one night to whisk his family out of town and keep his shadowy past concealed from his unsuspecting kids. Kevin James stars as Ray Hayes, a mob enforcer desperate to secure his family's safety. Here's an intriguing tidbit from IMDb trivia: "Kevin James drew inspiration for his role by observing French bulldogs struggling to jump onto a couch. Their repeated falls and persistence sparked his vision for portraying a sympathetic character in the film."
The ensemble cast also boasts Christina Ricci, Luis Guzmán, Francis Cronin, Kelly Landry, and Rob Gough. However, "Guns Up" doesn't quite seem like a barrel of laughs.
Officer Ray Hayes yearns to provide his family with a life beyond the modest means of a regular cop's salary. Seeking better prospects, he switches allegiances and starts working as a debt collector and thug for organized crime. Together with his wife Audrey, they dream of using their ill-gotten gains to open their own diner. Five years later, their dream seems tantalizingly close, and Ray is plotting his exit strategy. But when a new gangster boss, Lonny, takes charge, a botched job turns Ray into a target for his own comrades. Ray and Audrey must shield their naive children from the deadly clutches of the mafia.
Written and directed by Australian filmmaker Edward Drake, whose resume also includes "Animals," "Broil," "Cosmic Sin," "Apex," and films from the "Detective Knight" trilogy featuring Bruce Willis, "Guns Up" is produced by Jeffrey Greenstein, Jon Keeyes, Mandi Murro, J.J. Nugent, Tobias Weymar, and Edward Drake himself. As far as we know, this film hasn't premiered at any festivals or elsewhere. Drake's "Guns Up" will first open in Germany and Spain this summer, with a US release date still pending. Stay tuned for updates.
Any takers?
