History Film / ShootEmUp

* HookerWithAHeartOfGold: Donna.

* DragonInChief: Although Hammerson is the mastermind, his enforcer Hertz gets the most screentime.

* TheHeavy: Hertz is not the main villain, but he's the one who gives Smith the most trouble.

* GenreSavvy: Mr. Smith seems to know about typical action movie tropes, and actively takes steps to avoid them (see HaveYouToldAnyoneElse). Hertz is also quite savvy:
-->'''Minion''': We got fifty guys.
-->'''Hertz''': Well, that'll have to be enough.

* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: Hertz is good at these "Violence is one of the most fun things to watch."

** [[spoiler:Actually, TruthInTelevision, there is a nerve in the arm and wrist makes it twitch in the general direction done in the movie. But [[ImprobableAimingSkills hitting it]] on purpose is next to nil Unless you're Smith.]]

* BottomlessMagazines: Frequently hilariously averted. Inverted that Hertz' gun has six shots when the magazine of a real Desert Eagle .50 AE can hold seven, plus one in the chamber.

* StealthPun: Monica Belluci's character (a lactating prostitute) is named/nicknamed DQ - the initials are for her real name Donna Quintana. That, and [[spoiler: Dairy Queen.]]

* [[HeroicResolve Villianous Resolve]]: Hertz is a grade A asshole, but he pulls himself up off the floor after taking !four! bullets in the chest, an obviously critical wound, and stands up for the final showdown with Smith.
* VisualGag: Smith exclaims "Shit!" when he has a EurekaMoment; on seeing Senator Rutlidge in the newspaper Oliver has been using as a diaper.

* CarnivalOfKillers: Smith and Oliver get pursued by ever freelance assassin in the city (which is a surprisingly high number).

** Shown with PhallicWeapon symbolism when Hertz tortures Doona with the hot barrel of his Desert Eagle.

* UsefulNotes/GunSafety: Smith knows you can never learn 'em too young.
* GunsAkimbo: The first use of a fully-automatic gun in the film is when one of Hertz' {{Mooks}} shoots two Mini Uzis JohnWoo-style (aim both into the same direction, squeeze the triggers and hold 'em down until the magazines are empty). The usual.

* GunsDoNotWorkThatWay: Apart from the obvious RuleOfCool examples, the CountingBullets scene doesn't match the actual guns being used by either Hertz or Smith.

* BadAss: If we have to tell you, we're going to slap you.

* WorldOfBadass: Everyone is a {{Badass}} except DQ and a few InnocentBystanders. Yes, including Oliver who, despite just a few days old, loves HeavyMetal and guns.

-->'''Hammerson:''' Don't worry Duchess, this ain't going to happen to you. Not for a few years anyway. ''(Duchess whimpers)''

-->'''Smith:''' What's up, Doc? ''(bites carrot)''\\

-->'''Hertz:''' '''GOD''''''''DAMMIT,''''' '''SMITH!!!'''

* RatedMForManly

* BrokenAesop: A movie that celebrates gun violence has a [[UsefulNotes/AmericanGunPolitics pro-gun control]] message. According to the DVD commentary, this was not an attempt at a SpoofAesop, but was simply in keeping with the overall gun theme. All the problems and solutions of the film directly relate to guns. Recite the mantra.

No, really.

The film exists to show gunfights in every conceivable situation, from high-speed chases to [[CoitusUninterruptus mid-sex]] to mid-''skydiving''. Heck, it might as well be called ''Guns: The Movie'' because that's really the main focus of the film. The plot is secondary to [[AffectionateParody meta-humor]] and ''really'' over-the-top action sequences. No, we mean '''''really''''' over-the-top. Creator/RogerEbert commented: "''I may disapprove of a movie for [[WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief going too far]], and yet have a sneaky regard for a movie that goes [[CrossesTheLineTwice much, much farther than merely too far.]]''" By one count, Smith kills over one hundred and twenty people over the course of the film.

Not to be confused with {{Shoot Em Up}}s, the video game genre. Although they do have a lot in common.

* WeNeedADistraction: Donna needs to slip inside the tank, so Smith promises a distraction. He sees a woman striking her child so he proceeds to spank her.

* RubeGoldbergDevice: In order to get into the AbandonedWarehouse he's using as a home, Smith takes a rat out of a cage, removes a brick from the wall and pushes the rat inside. The rat runs down a tunnel into a wire basket on a pulley which drops from the weight, pushing down a latch to open the door.

The film exists to show gunfights in every conceivable situation, from high-speed chases to [[CoitusUninterruptus mid-sex]] to mid-''skydiving''. Heck, it might as well be called ''Guns: The Movie'' because that's really the main focus of the film. The plot is secondary to [[AffectionateParody meta-humor]] and ''really'' over-the-top action sequences. No, we mean '''''really''''' over-the-top. RogerEbert commented: "''I may disapprove of a movie for [[WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief going too far]], and yet have a sneaky regard for a movie that goes [[CrossesTheLineTwice much, much farther than merely too far.]]''" By one count, Smith kills over one hundred and twenty people over the course of the film.

* MeatShield: Smith uses one of the paratroopers as one to protect himself against another one.