The movie "Guns Up" (2025) opens with Ray Hayes, a former cop turned mob henchman, who is working for a local mob boss named Michael Temple, played by Melissa Leo. Ray is a man caught between two worlds: he has a family—a wife, Alice (Christina Ricci), and two children—and a dangerous job that he has been doing for years to save enough money to open a family diner. The film begins with Ray reflecting on his life, realizing he’s never going to make enough money to do something bigger for his family unless he continues working for the mob.

Ray agrees to work for Michael because she offers him a lucrative deal with benefits like a 401k and medical coverage, and she promises that when he’s ready to leave, he can do so. Ray’s goal is clear: he wants to work just long enough to save up for the diner and then quit. The story fast-forwards five years to the present day, where Ray’s wife tells him they finally have enough money to buy the diner. This moment is filled with hope and relief, and Ray decides it’s time to quit his life as a henchman. However, they keep the true nature of his job a secret from their children.

Soon after, the mob crew that Ray works for is taken over by a much more ruthless figure, Lonny Castigan (Timothy V. Murphy). Lonny’s arrival changes everything. Unlike Michael, Lonny is brutal and unforgiving. This shift in leadership makes Ray realize that leaving the mob life won’t be as simple as he hoped. Ray tries to quit, but Lonny is not understanding or lenient about people trying to leave his employ.

In desperation, Ray decides to do one last job, believing it will secure his freedom and allow him to start fresh with his family. This job, however, goes terribly wrong. The failure of this final job puts Ray directly in Lonny’s crosshairs. The danger escalates quickly as Lonny’s men begin targeting Ray’s family to punish him and keep him under control.

The film then shifts into intense action sequences centered on Ray defending his home and family. Ray fights off waves of attackers, using guns and knives, in visceral, close-quarters combat. The scenes are tense and brutal, showing Ray’s desperation and determination to protect his loved ones at all costs. The home front becomes a battleground, and Ray’s skills as a former cop and mob enforcer come to the forefront as he shoots and stabs his way through the attackers.

Throughout the film, Ray’s character arc is one of a man trying to escape a violent past and build a peaceful future, only to be dragged back into chaos. His relationship with Alice and their children adds emotional weight to the story, highlighting what is at stake. The tension between his desire for a normal life and the violent reality he faces drives the narrative forward.

The movie concludes with Ray confronting the final threat to his family, fighting to ensure their safety and his own survival. The ending is a culmination of the night’s violence and Ray’s struggle to break free from the mob’s grip, leaving the audience with a raw and gritty portrayal of a man fighting for redemption and family.

This narrative unfolds over a single intense day, blending action and dark comedy, with Kevin James performing his own stunts to bring authenticity to the physical confrontations. The film’s tone is darker than typical comedies starring James, focusing on the gritty reality of mob life and the personal cost of violence.

Lonny Castigan, played by Timothy V. Murphy, is a ruthless mob boss who takes over the mob operation after the previous leader, played by Melissa Leo, is killed. He forces Kevin James's character, Ray, to stay in the mob life and becomes the main antagonist who hunts Ray and his family when Ray tries to leave the mob world.

Christina Ricci's character is revealed to be a hitman whose parents worked for Lonny Castigan. Lonny killed her parents because they wanted to leave the mob life. As a young girl, she blinded Lonny in one eye and spent years trying to find him before assuming a new identity. She eventually meets Kevin James's character during the story.

Ray, a former police officer turned mob henchman, wants to quit the mob life to protect his family and pursue a peaceful future. He and his wife Alice have plans to open a diner, signaling his desire to leave crime behind. However, Lonny Castigan's takeover and refusal to let him quit force Ray into a desperate last job that goes wrong, putting his family in danger.

When Lonny's goons target Ray's family, the fight shifts to the home front. Ray fights through waves of attackers using gunplay and close combat, including shooting and stabbing, to protect his unsuspecting family and get them out of the city before he is killed.

Ray's final job is meant to secure his freedom from the mob, but it goes sideways and escalates the conflict. This job triggers Lonny's decision to hunt Ray and his family, leading to the intense action sequences where Ray must fight to survive and protect his loved ones.

The movie "Guns Up" (2025) is rated R and is not family friendly. It contains sustained, graphic violence, bloodshed, and foul language, which may be upsetting for children or sensitive viewers. There is no sexual content, but the brutality and morally complex themes, including the toll of a double life and the cost of sinful choices, contribute to a grim and sometimes hopeless tone. These elements make it unsuitable for younger teens or family viewing.

Potentially objectionable or upsetting scenes include: - Graphic and sustained violence and bloodshed - Intense action sequences involving guns and shootouts - Foul language throughout the film - Morally complex and dark themes related to crime, survival, and redemption - Some scenes involving children being taught to handle guns, which may be unsettling for some viewers.

There is no indication of sexual content or explicit scenes beyond violence and language. The film’s tone and content suggest it is best reserved for discerning adult viewers who can handle gritty action and mature themes.