In "Shoot or Be Shot" aspiring screenwriter Harvey Wilkes (William Shatner) is an escaped mental patient who attempts to force a film crew at gun point to turn his script into a motion picture. From there, all sorts of complications unfold. And as you might have guessed by now, it is not always obvious who has a more tenuous hold on their sanity—the mental patient or the people making his movie.
On the surface, the premise of "Shoot or Be Shot" has potential for humor, and William Shatner is an actor who definitely has comic gifts. But even with Shatner’s talents, this movie wasn’t funny enough to work as a comedy. I managed a couple of smiles while watching it, but the laughs were too few and far between. For me, another problem was when lampooning the pretensions of indie filmmakers, "Shoot or Be Shot" becomes so mired in its own self-consciousness and mediocrity that any comic or dramatic possibilities are lost.
The special features on "Shoot or Be Shot" are pretty minimal, and to my mind don't add that much to the experience of watching the DVD. "Shoot or Be Shot" offers both full-screen and widescreen anamorphic formats on the same disc. There are also movie trailers for "Down With Love," "Hot Shots," and "Our Man Flint."
William Shatner is the best thing about “Shoot or Be Shot,” but he wasn't enough to make up for some of this movie’s other shortcomings. I can't recommend the film either as a purchase or a rental, although some of Shatner’s fans might disagree and want to see it anyway. If you are in the mood for a truly enjoyable and funny comedy about people trying to make a movie any way they can, I suggest picking up a copy of "Bowfinger" on DVD instead.
