Following in the blood-drenched footsteps of such mild-manneredactionheroes as Bob Odenkirk’sNobody, your new favorite genre icon has arrived…and it’s not who we expected. Taking the lead in the newly released trailer for the upcoming action outingGuns Up(which you’re able to check out below) is none other thanGrown Upsstar and Adam Sandler’s pal and frequent collaboratorKevin James, who channels modern action legendJohn Wickto protect his family when he finds himself the target of the mob.
We now live in a world whereChristina Ricciis playing Kevin James’ love interest, but he’s far and away from the sitcom schlub he was inKing of Queens. Instead, James isnow doing his best Baba Yagaas he raises arms against the criminals after him and his family. And it comes with some surprisingly brutal results.
Netflix Action Thriller Gets “10/10” From Fans as It Smashes Its Way to Streaming Success
The streamer’s latest action outing has now amassed millions of views as it continues to hold firm in the Top 10.
Written and directed by Edward Drake and starringLuis Guzman, Joey Diaz, Melissa Leo, and Timothy V. Murphy alongside James and Ricci,Guns Upis all set for release on July 26, 2025. Coming in a thrillingly brisk 92 minutes, the action flickpromises to deliver fast-paced action farefrom the year’s most unexpected action hero. Alongside the new trailer, you can check out the official synopsis forGuns Upbelow.
“Guns Up follows Ray Hayes (Kevin James), an ex-cop and devoted husband and father who leads a dangerous double life as a mob henchman. On the brink of leaving “The Family” and making his dream of opening a diner with his wife Alice (Christina Ricci) a reality, his final job goes off the rails. With the clock ticking, Ray has one night to get his unsuspecting family out of the city before he gets snuffed out.”
This Is Not the First Time That Kevin James Has Played Against Type
While the sight of Kevin James wielding a shotgun while taking out the trash may surprise some, this is not the first time that the comedy actorhas played against type. Back in 2012, James stretched both his comedic and martial arts muscles in the sports comedyHere Comes the Boom, which finds thePixelsstar as a biology teacher in a failing high school who uses his long-forgotten wrestling skills to make money moonlighting as a mixed martial arts fighter.
But, while watching James thrown down in the Octagon was a shock, it’s nothingcompared to his villainous turnin 2020’s divisive action thriller,Becky. TheGrown Upsstar leaves the comedic shtick well and truly behind him to play the leader of a Neo-Nazi gang who invade the vacation home of a father and daughter while on the run from the law. Little do they know the daughter, the titular Becky, is far more capable than her 13-year-old frame would have you believe. WhileBeckywas met with a divided response (72% from critics alongside 57% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes), James received praise for his ruthlessly terrifying performance. And we can’t wait to see him resurrect a similar savagery all over again inGuns Up.
