‘Ray Gunn’ Review: Love Letter To Sci-Fi And Noir Films

Brad Bird has famously trying to bring this story to the big screen and the love of classic detective stories really shines through. Set in a huge retro futuristic city called Metropia, Ray Gunn (Sam Rockwell) is a private detective trying to keep his agency going in a corrupt city filled with alien gangsters. As he gets drawn into a murder case after taking a new job working with Venus Nova (Scarlett Johansson) a glamorous pop star, Ray gets caught up in a conspiracy. The passion Bird has for this genre really comes across and the imaginative visuals really help to spread that, however the mystery doesn’t really match up to the level of creativity. This is a great animated film with great atmosphere and a fun cast of characters however the story is too easy to work out.

The best thing about this film is the city. Bird has created a retro detective city that almost feels like it was taken from a pulp detective novel. The future tech combines with the weird alien creatures and huge art deco buildings to create a great atmosphere. Jet packs and advanced weaponry combine with the smokey bars, dark streets and crime dens typically found in classic noir films. Whilst this could be seen as just referencing many different things, the visuals have their own unique style. The city is very busy and there is so much happening that it feels like there is a whole lot more going on than what is shown to us. Bird knows how to utilise the animation to create exciting scenes, whether it be Ray exploring the underworld or getting into a chase scene.

The action scenes are amazing to watch. The camera glides around the city making it feel like there is lots more movement to the film. The action scenes are well choreographed and don’t feel stiff. Bird has always been great at creating exciting action scenes to help the audience understand the geography of the scene. The futuristic tech doesn’t feel forced but fits into the world perfectly. There is a lot to take in visually but the animation helps the film feel exciting.

The noir influence really helps the film. Ray is a detective who still really believes in keeping his own personal honour in a world that sees honesty as a weakness. His alien partner Eye-ra Kadok (Tom Waits) has a more realistic approach to their business and often reminds Ray that they wouldn’t survive if they just stuck to their principles. This creates some great comedy moments. Rockwell plays the character with a relaxed attitude which pairs well with Tom Waits’ deep voice and quirky mannerisms. They have a great chemistry and the arguments they have about money and honour really help to get the audience involved in the world. Ray is a typical stubborn detective but Rockwell makes him a likeable character.

The alien population also makes the film have more of a social message. The non-human citizens are often treated like second class citizens and there is a lot of prejudice throughout the city. This gives the city more depth than just a simple murder mystery setting. It shows how corrupt the city really is as there is discrimination. Throughout Ray’s investigation he meets people who are happy to take advantage of the inequality and his own morals begin to struggle as the situation becomes more dangerous. This fits into the noir style well but the script doesn’t really explore these ideas much further. It is clear there is prejudice throughout the city but we could have seen how it affects each character and the mystery.

Venus Nova is a large part why this film is so enjoyable. Johansson plays a famous singer who has let her personal life affect her career. Her relationship with Ray makes the investigation more personal. She is a glamorous, unpredictable character who is used to living in the spotlight but tries to keep certain parts of her life private. Johansson adds some personality to the character and the jazz music helps to add more depth to the atmosphere. The music feels like it fits into the retro world and helps to establish Venus as a performer with her own identity. The relationship between the two creates the typical conflict between work and love but the script doesn’t always allow the relationship to really develop.

The rest of the cast add a lot of personality to the city. Matt Berry plays Francis ‘Slugsy’ Xavier, an alien mob boss. Bobby Cannavale plays Arnold Dom, Venus’ husband and the man who initially hired Ray to spy on her. Michelle Rodriguez adds some grit to the character of Roz Dexler, the police captain and Alan Tudyk plays Barry Vogel, Venus’ manager and first husband. All characters add something to the busy social world however they aren’t explored much. The casting is one of the strongest points of this film. With such unique voices the characters all feel different. The issue with this is that there are so many characters and connections that it can feel like the story is more complex than it actually is.

This is the biggest issue with the film. Despite there being many suspicious deaths, illegal laser guns, crime and powerful people hiding their secrets, the main mystery is very easy to work out. Everything fits together nicely and there are many moments which feel like they have been lifted from other detective stories. Whilst using typical detective tropes isn’t an issue for a noir film and the film does have an obvious noir influence, the mystery needs to be written better to make it feel satisfying. The clues and twists don’t really challenge the audience and the connections between Venus’ scandal and the bigger conspiracy feel predictable.

Despite this, the script is surprisingly basic. Bird has created a city that could be explored in many ways with complex themes of identity, prejudice, power and survival. However the characters often speak plainly about these issues. Ray has a clear motive to stick to his honour but the film could have put him in more challenging situations to really test him. Venus has her own personal problems and the bigger conspiracy could have been explored in more depth however they often just serve the mystery. Overall this is a visually impressive film with some simple emotions. Whilst having an easy to follow story isn’t an issue, it feels like there was more to say.

The score by Michael Giacchino helps to keep the atmosphere. It maintains the retro detective vibe without losing the sci-fi feel. The jazz music adds some extra depth to Venus’ world. The sound and visuals work together to make Metropia feel like one cohesive world. This is important as the style of the film is the most obvious way that Bird’s passion for this project is shown. This gives Ray Gunn a personality that the mystery doesn’t always have.

There is a lot to love and admire here. The film feels genuine in wanting to bring classic noir into an animated sci-fi story. It’s not perfect by any means but it is an exciting and a good time overall.