SummarySteve Ford (Bruce Willis) is a down but not out L.A based Private Investigator whose professional and personal worlds collide after his loving pet Buddy is stolen by a notorious gang. A series of crazy circumstances find him doing the gang's bidding, while being chased by two vengeful Samoan brothers, a loan shark's goons, and a few other shady c... Read More
Directed By:Mark Cullen
Written By:Mark Cullen, Robb Cullen
Once Upon a Time in Venice
Metascore
Generally Unfavorable
28
User score
Mixed or Average
5.1
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Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Unfavorable
28
11% Positive
1 Review
1 Review
11% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
78% Negative
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
Jun 15, 2017
75
At times it’s funny as hell. At other times it’s pretty much a disaster. But it never commits the crime of being tedious.
Jun 16, 2017
50
The best thing that can be said about Once Upon a Time in Venice, a very light action comedy from Mark and Robb Cullen, is that it allows Willis to cut loose and have fun.
User score
Mixed or Average
5.1
28% Positive
9 Ratings
9 Ratings
44% Mixed
14 Ratings
14 Ratings
28% Negative
9 Ratings
9 Ratings
Jul 7, 2024
9
I would recommend to watch this movie and I woul give 9 points. I like the characters
Nov 15, 2025
8
CHATGPT BASED REVIEW Once Upon a Time in Venice (2017) is a fun, lighthearted action-comedy that doesn't take itself too seriously. Directed by Mark and Robb Cullen, the film stars Bruce Willis as Steve Ford, a private investigator navigating the colorful and chaotic streets of Venice Beach in a desperate mission to rescue his beloved dog. With a quirky premise, a talented cast, and a laid-back vibe, the movie offers a surprisingly enjoyable watch.Pros: Bruce Willis in His Element: Willis shines as Steve, blending his trademark action-star charm with a comedic touch. His relaxed performance makes the character feel authentic, and he carries the film with ease. Watching Willis in this quirky, offbeat role is a delight.Eccentric Supporting Characters: The supporting cast brings a lot of personality to the film. John Goodman is particularly memorable as Steve's best friend Dave, whose personal struggles add heart to the story. Jason Momoa's portrayal of Spyder, a friendly yet intimidating gangster, is both unexpected and **** and Unique Storyline: The plot-a PI going to wild lengths to recover his stolen dog-provides a fresh and entertaining take on the action-comedy genre. The film's series of zany adventures keeps the pace lively and engaging.Great Setting: Venice Beach serves as a perfect backdrop, with its vibrant streets and eccentric characters complementing the film's offbeat humor. The setting adds a unique flavor that sets it apart from other action-comedies.Humor and Heart: The movie balances absurd comedy with moments of genuine heart. While the humor is over-the-top at times, it fits the tone of the film and delivers plenty of laughs. Meanwhile, the underlying themes of friendship and loyalty give the story an emotional core.Cons: Simple Plot: While entertaining, the story isn't particularly deep or complex. It's more about the ride than the destination, which might not appeal to viewers looking for a layered narrative.Uneven Pacing: The film occasionally loses momentum in its middle act, but the energetic finale more than makes up for it.Predictable at Times: Some of the twists and jokes are easy to see coming, which slightly diminishes the impact of certain scenes.Conclusion: Once Upon a Time in Venice is a breezy, entertaining film that succeeds in blending action, comedy, and a dash of heart. Bruce Willis leads a quirky and talented cast in a story filled with charm, laughs, and memorable moments. While it's not without its flaws, the film's unique vibe and feel-good energy make it a hidden gem worth watching. 8/10.
Jun 14, 2017
33
Mark Cullen’s ruthlessly boring and decidedly dismal Once Upon a Time in Venice marks a new low in Willis’ still-trucking action career, one that even Cage would likely flinch at, even if it does feature an entire sequence dedicated to naked skateboarding.
Jun 15, 2017
30
The movie tries for propulsive Tarantino grit but ends up being just another annoying example of Hollywood’s addiction to stories in which graying white men bed beautiful young women and beat up men much more youthful and fit than they are.
Jun 15, 2017
25
Stylistically, Once Upon A Time In Venice is mostly indistinguishable from a middling TV pilot that never made it to series.
Jun 15, 2017
20
What scant charms this direct-to-video-style Nineties throwback has belong mostly to Willis.
Jul 23, 2018
6
For me this movie is 6.5. I mean it is quite fun and interesting to watch, even though many of the things that happen on screen are quite unrealistic in the way they make their decisions or what is happening, but it is still fun movie, only thing - you forget about it after watching quite fast, so I guess I can't give it a positive rating.
Apr 22, 2018
5
Nice to see Bruce Willis in something recent that isn't completely terrible. It's still a rather mediocre movie, but the actor seems to be having some fun and putting in a moderate amount of effort. Something that we haven't seen him do in quite some time. He basically just plays an old dude who refuses to grow up and spends his days getting mixed up in crazy situations as a private detective. Willis has too many years on him to play a character like this in any believable fashion, but the movie is pretty self-aware about it as just about everyone he comes in contact with mentions it in some way. It kind of aimlessly wanders for about the first 30 minutes or so before finally picking up a plot. From there we just watch Willis make crazy deals with different shady individuals in an effort to find his dog and get bombarded by a bunch of weird, underdeveloped side-characters. There's no real action to speak of. Just a very brief shootout in the last ten minutes and the occasional punch thrown. It's really more of a comedy. Not a particularly great one, but the hijinks are pretty amusing. I loved John Goodman in this. He was delightfully droll. Nothing else about Once Upon a Time in Venice really stands out, but it can a suitable time waster. Some humorous moments, a cute dog, and Jessica Gomes' breasts are really all it has to offer. While better than the majority of the stuff he's been in over the past few years, Bruce Willis still has a long way to go before getting back to the quality work we once expected from him. 5.8/10
Jun 16, 2022
3
I thought a movie with Bruce Willis can't be that bad. Well I got proved wrong.
Sep 17, 2017
3
One of Bruce Willis's latest films is a very chaotic, comedy-based crime thriller. Unfortunately something went wrong and finally we got something as usual. The plot focuses on the perils of a corrupt cop / detective who loses his doggy through his shady business. An ordinary mongrel for whom the main character is ready for a skateboard in the same underwear. The script turned out to be a torn-down combo of many similar productions, and the actors did not even try to be convincing.
Production Company:
- Voltage Pictures
Release Date:Jun 16, 2017
Duration:1 h 34 m
Tagline:Never mess with a man's dog
