James Sunshine’s Killing Mary Sue is an action-comedy with a memorable cast! Senator Bradley Weiner (Dermot Mulroney) is running against Anita Koch (Kym Whitley). He is known for his clean reputation among the public; the only snag is his stepdaughter, Mary Sue (Sierra McCormick). Mary Sue is a reckless and drug-addicted party animal who gets embroiled in international scandals. She comes from a troubled past; her father, Ed Harper (Jason Mewes), was killed during a botched liquor store robbery. Ever since her father’s death, she has been yearning for paternal love from Weiner. Her mother, Janine (Katie Killacky), later married Weiner in order to have stability.
With Election Day getting nearer, Senator Weiner has a diabolical plan… kill Mary Sue. He and his campaign manager, Wes (Jake Busey), enlist the help of assassin Knox (Martin Kove). Knox sends his top assassins: Cable Henry (Sean Patrick Flannery) and Chet Steiner (Jesse Kove). These assassination attempts go awry when it is revealed that Mary Sue has excellent marksmanship, abilities she acquired from playing video games. Unbeknownst to her, her stepfather is colluding with the Russian mob. Is the housemaid, Carrie (Rita Rehn), truly trustworthy? How does mobster, Vladyslav Volkov (French Stewart), contribute to Mary Sue’s incredible abilities?
“…Mary Sue has excellent marksmanship, abilities she acquired from playing video games.”
Killing Mary Sue takes political headlines and transforms them into a hilarious film. James Sunshine’s screenplay features a great cast of characters. Sierra McCormick gives a Ryan Reynolds-esque performance as the titular heroine. Mary Sue has snarky anti-hero attributes and is layered with complexity. Simultaneously, she feels relatable to the Gen-Z audience. Martin Kove and French Stewart liven the film with their humorous supporting characters. Rita Rehn is the MVP as the housemaid, Carrie! Her role at first seems irrelevant to the plot until the film’s second act reveals a clever twist.
Frank Bal’s stunt choreography is a solid blend of physical comedy and realistic action. His stuntwork suits the story and adapts well to the talents of the cast. McCormick hits her marks during the film’s first shootout. These creative choices give the sequences a rougher edge in comparison to the polished fight scenes seen in major Hollywood productions.
Samuel Goldwyn Films delivers a foul-mouthed action-comedy with a ton of heart! Those who love The Hitman’s Bodyguard franchise and other action comedies will be in for a treat. Killing Mary Sue has the potential to be the next summer blockbuster with its incredible cast, oddball energy, and original storyline.
"…incredible cast, oddball energy, and original storyline."
