Too many cooks spoil... (The Mexican (DVD))

Member Name: itsonlyme

Product:	The Mexican (DVD)
Date:	23/06/01 (12 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Decent premise, Big name cast

Disadvantages: It doesn't work, bored me silly!

Featuring two major Hollywood stars usually causes nothing other than Chaos. While the proven tactic of 1 bihg name and one not-so-big-name supporting actor works well almost every time, I can think of few occasions when two mega-stars have 'hit it off' on screen. This is unfortunately a blatant case of the latter!

I am not one of Julia Roberts' biggest fans, I'll admit to it. In fact, I have come near detesting some of her performances in the past (was I the only person that felt incredibly sick when she received an Academy Award nomination for her mediocre-at-best performance in Pretty Woman) ranging from Runaway Bride (how bad was this awful movie?) to 'Something to Talk About'. Hey, I'll admit to liking her in Erin Brockovich and Michael Collins, two performances in which she did not spend the entire duration attempting to look like a lovable, adorable young lady which was incredibly refreshing.

But I am a Brad Pitt fan. He has long been an actor to keep in eye on, ever since his charming performance in Robert Redford's A River Runs Through It and his evil performance in Dominic Sena's cult classic Kalifornia. I still remember trying to convince people that the real treat in Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles was Pitt, not costar Tom Cruise (who, admittedly, has grown into a respectable actor over the years) and have been rather happy that he has become a type of modern James Dean, leaving the ladies and the critics in awe. Before The Mexican, I had not seen a performance from Pitt that did not seem like he was taking a shot at something new.

Yet I was not in awe of seeing these two together for the first time, because I knew exactly what was going to happen in the long run. Pitt does have a more chivalrous quality than most actors these days (read: Leondardo DiCaprio), and he is the only of the two that makes it out of the film retaining any inch of respect. You have an impression th
at he is not as guilty of the screen hogging, as the film would like you to think. It is more the work of director Gore Verbinski, in a sad attempt at making each actor look like the star through his helming. Roberts, on the other hand, practically screams "I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. Verbinski" with every shot. Boy, do I pray for an Ellen Burstyn win at the upcoming Academy Awards.

Pitt is Jerry, a mild-mannered regular Joe with the mob on his heels. A traffic accident landed him in the hands of a mob overlord named Margolis, who needs Jerry to fulfill some needs from middleman Nalin (Balaban). For his final chore, Jerry must go to Mexico and find a beloved gun called The Mexican, which is evidently important to everyone corrupt both north and south of the border.

Now, this task would not be so bad if it were not for the fact that he and his girlfriend Samantha (Roberts) have planned to go to Las Vegas for the week, which the cancellation of the plan is enough to lead her into a violent frenzy and head out in the direction by herself. En route, she becomes the prey of two hitmen, both of whom hope to use her as a compromising token to get the gun from Jerry. The one that finally gets his hands on her is Leroy (Gandolfini), a very untrusting soul that becomes more of a confidant than a threat to Samantha as time progresses.

Of course, things go awry for Jerry and he must forge his belongings and his energy to regaining the gun. As Jim Morrison said, "people are strange when you're a stranger" and stranger still when you are a very worried American tourist with a decrepit truck and a rabid dog in Mexico. All the while, Jerry and Samantha bicker back and forth without the other even being around. It's a loving, happy film.

One of the keys to this film is whether or not you can stand the experience of being with these two for so long. In my mind, it was like sitting through The Story of Us again, wh
ere you are supposed to be entertained by two people viciously fighting for nearly two hours. More trouble still, in the fact that The Mexican feels like it is three hours in length, following every false climax with an additional story arch to make one of the most convoluted films of the year so far.

I had nothing against Gore Verbinski, who did a fine job four years ago with Mouse Hunt, but could not help but feel that he was not suited to direct a film like The Mexican. He does it in a style that would work only if this film were more light-hearted. Had there been a little less death and dark undertones, this film might have worked under the direction that Verbinski gives, but as is, there is nothing to keep it in check, like Joel Coen did with the similar in tone but far superior Fargo.

This film will no doubt make it big for the reason that the film is headed by two of the biggest names on the scene, and some people may actually like this film for what it is. However, for me, this was just like placing chalk and cheese and making you watch and wait...ultimately for nothing!

Summary: