Killing Gunther (2017)

Killing Gunther is the kind of action-comedy that wins you over with sheer commitment: a pack of would-be assassins filming their own “legendary” takedown, only to discover they’re hilariously outmatched by an unseen force of competence and ego. Director-star Taran Killam leans into a mockumentary, sketchy vibe where the jokes come from big personalities, escalating incompetence, and the delicious tension of waiting for the myth to finally walk on screen. And when Arnold Schwarzenegger does arrive, he brings exactly the larger-than-life swagger you’re hoping for, turning the movie into a playful riff on hitman lore rather than a straight shoot-’em-up. It’s not for everyone—if you need tight plotting or nonstop laughs, it can feel shaggy—but if you’re in the mood for goofy, R-rated mayhem with a game cast, it’s an easy, entertaining watch.

Killing Gunther is clearly aiming for a mockumentary-style action comedy where a bunch of wannabe assassins talk big, fail loudly, and get outplayed by a legendary hitman. The problem is the joke wears thin fast: the pacing drags, the team’s personalities feel more like one-note sketches than characters, and a lot of the humor lands with a thud instead of a punch. If you’re mainly here for Schwarzenegger, know that the movie teases him for ages and only properly delivers him late, which can make the whole build-up feel like it’s stalling. Still, there are a few amusing bits and some decent violent slapstick, so it may work as low-stakes background viewing if you like awkward, chaotic “idiots with guns” comedy and don’t need consistent laughs.