"The Mexican"

United States, 2001
U.S. Release Date: 3/2/01 (wide)
Running Length: 2:03
MPAA Classification: R

Cast: Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, James Gandolfini
Director: Gore Verbinski
Producers: John Baldecchi, Lawrence Bender
Screenplay: J. H. Wyman

Alright, so after a weekend of a broken DVD player, I’m back at it… and coming to you with yet another film, The Mexican.

This film was entertaining for the most part; however, definitely not one of Brad Pitt’s or Julia Roberts’ best, or most memorable, works by any means. You would think that two “A-List” actors would put out a better movie, but I guess that comes down to chemistry. And in all honesty, it really just wasn’t there – at least between Pitt and Roberts.

The plot of the film is rather simple really. Samantha (Julia Roberts) and Jerry Welbach (Brad Pitt) is a couple who seem to be meant for one another, on the rocks. At this point, it doesn’t seem like anything can save them. Samantha basically gives Jerry the ultimatum that she will leave him unless he walks away from the mob. For Jerry, this is not an option so he is off to Mexico to fetch a cursed pistol, named “The Mexican”, for a high-ranked mob boss. Samantha spits to Las Vegas and winds up being held hostage by a – what the audience could assume to be gay – hitman, Leroy (James Gandolfini).

As Jerry attempts to bring back the pistol everything seems to go wrong – quite possibly due to the curse the pistol carries. While Jerry is trekking all over Mexico, Samantha and Leroy (who is practically like a slightly messed up teddy bear at heart) create a close bond as she listens to him try to confront his “issues”, like a therapist would.

I believe that the best chemistry doesn’t lie between the lovebirds (Samantha and Jerry) rather between Leroy and Samantha – on a friendship level. In the film, Pitt’s character seems to stand out when he is on his own in Mexico.

The plot seemed to flow nicely for the most part but seemed to be slightly lacking in the end. So, in my opinion, the movie is amusing and comedic – in the “I saw that coming” sort of way. It is not really one of those movies that entailed a lot of depth, but one that will keep you occupied for a couple hours on a rainy day.

Personal Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Further information can be found at iMDB.com