Liam Neeson (STAR WARS, EPISODE 1: THE PHANTOM MENACE) and Oliver Platt (BICENTENNIAL MAN) star with Sandra Bullock (HOPE FLOATS) in an outrageously offeat comedy about what happens when a busy undercover cop suddenly lose... more »s his legendary nerves of steel! The only way Charlie (Neeson), a respected D.E.A. agent traumatized by a hair-raising run-in with some ruthless gangsters, can do his job is with the embarrassing treatments of an attractive nurse (Bullock) and the questionable psychotherapy provided by a highly unstable support group! And since he's stuck in a deep-cover sting operation until he nabs a wisecracking, trigger-happy Mafia leader who scares him to death (Platt), Charlie can only hope to fake his tough-as-nails image long enough to make this one last bust ... and make it out alive! Loaded with huge stars and big laughs -- you can't miss with this high-caliber comedy hit!« less
Actors:Liam Neeson, Oliver Platt, José Zúñiga, Michael DeLorenzo, Andrew Lauer Genres:Comedy Sub-Genres:Sandra Bullock Studio:WALT DISNEY VIDEO Format:DVD - Color,Full Screen,Anamorphic - Closed-captioned DVD Release Date: 06/20/2000 Original Release Date: 02/04/2000 Theatrical Release Date: 02/04/2000 Release Year: 2000 Run Time: 1hr 41min Screens: Color,Full Screen,Anamorphic Number of Discs: 1 SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 7 MPAA Rating: R (Restricted) Languages:English See Also:
Victoria P. (Packy) from KINGSVILLE, TX Reviewed on 4/2/2010...
Great cast! Quick paced movie that has you cheering for a "bad guy". Not a well known movie, can't see why.
Movie Reviews
Boy, you think YOUR job is tough?
Schtinky | California | 03/07/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Five stars for this cleverly made dark comedy about a DEA Agent's last assignment, to catch the players in a drug ring.Liam Neeson plays Charlie, whose last assignment with the DEA went south badly, resulting in his partner being killed and him being literally tied up on a large platter of watermelon, but is rescued before he is executed.The very opening scene of this movie is a kick, with Charlie sitting pants-less on the bathroom floor of an airport, talking to himself and reliving his arguments with his boss and the execution of his partner; complete with a hilarious fantasy of the bad guys doing ballet leaps as they are shot, surrealistic and funny, choreographed along with the tune "Blue Skies For Everyone".Charlie meets a psychiatrist on the airplane, and decides to see him. Dr. Bleckner talks Charlie into joining his group therapy session, where Charlie unloads the stresses of his job, to the astonishment of the group. He also talks Charlie into seeing a gastroenterologist, and prescribes some sedatives for him to take before his big meeting with the drug mob.Charlie teams up with Fidel and Estuvio, two Columbians who are bringing in the drugs, and a meeting is arranged with Fulvio Nesstra (Oliver Platt) and his money man Jason Cane (Andrew Lauer). Fulvio is a frustrated gangster, following along in the family business and trying to please his father-in-law, when what he really wants to do is just be able to grow a good tomato.The meeting is hilarious, with Charlie falling asleep from the drugs while talking with Fulvio, and Fulvio shooting Estuvio in the jewels.Charlie goes to the gastroenterologist and meet nurse Judy Tipp (Sandra Bullock) who tells him that he needs to get his life under control or he will s*** himself to death. This is probably one of the best scenes in the movie, the enema scene done to the tune of "Man's World" while Nurse Tipp chats away. Charlie and Judy strike up a romance, the chattering Judy giving Charlie the new perspective on life that he needed.Charlie is trying to get through this assignment and nail the drug ring, while Fulvio is trying to get through the deal to make a name for himself, and they strike up an unusual friendship.Things go from bad to worse, as Charlie reveals more and more of his job to his counseling group, becomes more involved with Judy, and goes deeper and deeper into the dealings with Fulvio and the columbians.This is a not-to-be-missed movie; it is well cast and well acted, with a fresh and unique storyline not even comparable to Analyze This or the other movie competitors. I would go so far to say that Gun Shy is far superior to the competing movies that pushed it into the video stores so quickly, more full of life and humor even with its black undertone.The surprise twist at the end will leave you laughing for a long time, I didn't even see it coming and it was the perfect top off for this excellent dark comedy. My advice? Go out and buy this movie. Enjoy!"
Warm-hearted and hilarious!
BettePage | Omaha, NE | 12/05/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I found this to be a wonderful and engaging film. The plot has been criticized for being a tad meandering and while I do agree with that, it didn't detract from my enjoyment at all. I found it a little hard to get into at first, I think because there was so much of Liam Neeson in the first several scenes and he is not one of my favorite actors. He won me over in this, however. People also have stated that the "bowel humor" was a bit gross, but I felt the sound effects were funny and also made you really feel the charactor's discomfort and fear in the scene. Remember, everybody poops.Oliver Platt is one of my favorite actors, and he does not disapoint in this movie. This is definitely a charactor driven movie, with a lot of conversations and not much action, but the action was well placed and hilarious. There are also small nuances that really develop the charactors further such as when Oliver Platt's charator, Fulvio, spends the night cleaning his kitchen. I found it both warm-hearted and funny and the statement it makes about some peoples need to get out of the rat race of their lives and relax really spoke to me! To the Ocean View!A word to Sandra Bullock fans - she has a very small part in this film and is only in a few scenes, although she is wonderful as always."
An Underrated, Underseen Gem
Donegal Dan | Southwest United States | 05/30/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Apparently this movie got lost in the shuffle somehow (see other reviews)and it is a shame, because it is a very funny, semi-black comedy that deserved a broader audience. While Liam Neeson is not usually cast in comedies, he should do more of them because he was very good as Charlie, the burned-out drug agent and he was surrounded by a great cast, topped by Oliver Platt, who was, as usual, excellent, and Sandra Bullock, who had a small but effective part as Charlie's no-nonsense girlfriend. Mary McCormick was hilarious in a tiny, almost unrecognized part as Fluvio's (Pratt's) caustic wife and the group of sadsacks who made up Charlie's therapy group added their own comic note. I would recommend this to anyone who just wants to relax and have a nice, uncomplicated laugh and enjoy two very attractive leading actors."
A better movie than critics think.
Alexa Raven | San Diego, CA USA | 06/02/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Gun Shy is a flawed film; however, it is much better than critics tell you.The film is about a DEA agent, named Charlie Mayo, who narrowly avoided death in a previous assignment. He wants out of the DEA, but the agency has other ideas. Against his wishes, he takes an assignment in New York, convinced that he will die at any moment. Along the way, he meets a psychiatrist, a therapy group, a nurse in a proctologist's office, and a few bad guys.Liam Neeson delivers a fine performance as the DEA agent that wants out any way he can. Sandra Bullock is his love interest, the nurse that uses gardening, humor and sex as alternative treatment to the proctologist's pills. There are several running gags and a few bits of bathroom humor, but the strength of the film is in the characters and their interactions. Some of the finest moments of the film take place during the group's sessions -- many of those scenes are gems.For my taste, Sandra Bullock was underused. I felt that the scenes between her and Liam Neeson could have been fleshed out more and more added. Probably the best scenes with the two are: 1. The rooftop seduction, with the toy skip loader and garden hose; 2. The bedroom scene when the two lovers are parting (for what Charlie thinks is the last time).The film isn't over the top; there aren't long sections of action and violence; there aren't long scenes of skin and sex; instead this is a little story of a man fumbling through life the best way he can."
Slapstick Mixed with Psychology
Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 02/28/2006
(3 out of 5 stars)
"GUN SHY is a peculiar movie, one that purports to have a significant storyline but one that splinters ideas all over the place, leaving the viewer wondering what all the fuss is about.
'Charlie' Mayeaux (Liam Neeson) is a bummed out DEA agent fresh from a bungled case yet given an important assignment to break a Columbian drug cartel represented by Fidel (José Zúñiga) and his boyfriend Estuvio (Michael DeLorenzo). Also caught up in this mélange is the Mafia represented, however reluctantly, by Fulvio Nestra (Oliver Platt), a nerdy but vicious bungler whose temper is uncontrollable, partly due to his insipid belittling wife Gloria (Mary McCormack) whose father demands Fulvio's crime life importance. Charlie is a mess, meets a psychologist who introduces him to group therapy (where Charlie idiotically relates all the DEA secrets openly) and to gastroenterology where nurse Judy (Sandra Bullock) administers a barium enema then other more herbal-sided treatments while she and Charlie become bonded. People are maimed (gunshot castration), killed, made to look foolish, all to the end of supposedly belly laughs on the part of the audience.
True, Neeson shows a flair for comedy and Platt manages to convey a breakthrough role for him, but the rest is a jumbled mess. Made in 2000 with the Twin Towers of New York frequently visible during talk against Arabs and the Middle East, it is easy to see why the timing of this 'yet another Mafia vs law' film contributed to its short theater run (how many have even heard of it?). But in the final analysis it probably failed on its own merits - sad for a film filled to the brim with very fine actors. Grady Harp, February 06"