Ray Gunn is an incredible film about a private detective in a retro-futuristic metropolis. Ray Gunn and his one-eyed alien coworker, Eye-ra, are in a rough financial situation, but they receive a great chance to make money.
The writers (Brad Bird and Matthew Robbins) did an amazing job during the first act introducing all of the characters. Eye-ra and Ray are introduced during a mission while making jokes, showing how they have been working together for a long time. This makes the viewer get invested in the story early on, making it easier to get engaged. On the other hand, the second and third acts fall behind a little, especially with their predictable conclusion.
Brad Bird’s direction feels very familiar, especially if you’ve seen The Incredibles, and that’s a good thing. One of his best tricks is using the camera as an obstacle. Instead of showing everything at once, he sometimes hides the action behind objects or hard-to-see angles. That keeps the audience guessing and keeps the suspense alive. It also makes the action feel more immediate, because you’re discovering things at the same time as the characters.
Michael Giacchino stole the spotlight. The score is by far the best thing in this film. It makes the viewer feel the tension in every scene. The music doesn’t just switch tracks; it transitions from calm and slow to fast-paced. Even when the script stumbles in the later acts, the music keeps the energy up and gives you a reason to stay invested.
Visually, it’s hard to find anything to complain about in this film. The city looks incredible, and the action sequences are well choreographed, making all the characters useful when more than two are fighting. The colors all match the futuristic look the film is trying to achieve, and the retro-inspired cars and clothing give the city its own identity while still nodding to the 1940s detective stories that inspired it.
The pacing is impulsive in the first act. The characters are introduced fairly easily, and the film pulls your attention into its world without ever feeling rushed. But once the second act kicks in, the film loses its way. Scenes that should feel exciting start to feel stretched out. By the third act, the story is still holding together, but it drags a little, and the energy that made the opening so great doesn’t fully come back. It keeps a very good film from being a great one.
Ray Gunn releases in select theaters on December 4 & on Netflix on December 18.
