Guns Up is solid proof that a familiar story, told with grit and heart, can be enough. It’s an undeniable victory for Kevin James, who proves that he can pull off an action hero. It's entertaining if, admittedly, not too deep.

For a film with a name like “Guns Up,” there’s surprisingly little by way of armed shootouts until the final act. For a tale of a family man moonlighting as a mob enforcer, the story and action lack the urgency suggested by its one-last-job premise.

While there are several problems with the film as a whole, perhaps the central one is that there are long stretches where viewers are expected to take the concept at least somewhat seriously, which proves impossible.

An enjoyable action romp, thanks to Drake’s punchy direction and strong character work.