Kevin James' Action Comedy on Paramount+ in 2025 Outshines Playdate

Following Alan Ritchson's intense role in season 3 of "Reacher," which aired earlier this year, he reunited with Kevin James in November for the action comedy Playdate. Despite its poor critical reception, the film quickly reached the number one spot on Prime Video due to audience enthusiasm. Now, Kevin James is back with his second action comedy of 2025, and it appears to surpass Playdate.

Guns Up premiered on Paramount+ on December 1 and has already climbed to the top of the streaming platforms charts. The movie has also received more favorable reviews than Playdate, making it a promising choice for fans of action comedies. In this film, James stars as a mob enforcer seeking to leave his criminal life behind. The film is directed by Australian filmmaker Edward Drake, known for transitioning from music videos to B-movies and for his previous work with Bruce Willis in films such as Breach and American Siege. Drakes last project before Guns Up was Detective Knight: Independence, the third installment in a Willis-led trilogy.

With Guns Up, Drake combines his signature action style with comedic elements, marking his most high-profile release to date. Paramount+ viewers can now experience the collaboration between Drake and James firsthand.

Plot Overview

Kevin James plays Ray Hayes, an ex-cop and devoted father who now works as a mob henchman. Balancing family life with a criminal career proves challenging, especially as he dreams of leaving the mob to open a diner with his wife Alice (Christina Ricci). However, one final mission stands in his way, complicated by the arrival of a ruthless new mob boss, Lonnie Castigan (Timothy V. Murphy), who threatens Rays children, Siohbn (Keana Marie) and Henry (Leo Easton Kelly). This sparks a series of violent confrontations that push Ray to finally exit the criminal world.

Upon its release, Guns Up quickly rose to the top of Paramount+ charts, debuting at number two before reaching number one according to FlixPatrol. Critics have responded more positively to the film than to Playdate, where Alan Ritchson's role was seen as underwhelming and the film earned only 20% on Rotten Tomatoes. In contrast, Guns Up received a more favorable reception, currently holding a 61% score.

Reception and Comparison

While Guns Up may not redefine the action-comedy genre, it offers a more enjoyable experience than Playdate. In Playdate, James plays a surprised stepdad discovering Ritchsons character is a former Delta Force soldier. In Guns Up, James takes on the role of the action hero, even earning a humorous comparison from his son, who asks, "Is dad John Wick?" Critics have noted that this shift works better than the dynamic in Playdate, where Ritchsons character was expected to carry the action.

Among reviews, Linda Marric of HeyUGuys praised James performance as "an undeniable victory," while Varietys Siddhant Adlakha pointed out the films lack of urgency despite its "one-last-job" premise. Nevertheless, audience reactions have leaned positive, with many viewers finding Guns Up more entertaining than expected.

Author: Ethan Caldwell