I hate 500mg metformin weight loss it when movies try too hard to make political statements and the integrity of the film takes a backseat to social commentary. My fear going into Machete was that it would be nothing more than a heavy-handed exercise in liberal thinking about immigration and border control cloaked in trailers proclaiming it an action packed exploitation film. Maybe I metformin 1000 mg pill underestimated Robert Rodriguez, because Machete does not fall into this trap at all and never lets politics take precedent over the story. Rodriguez has made a film about a very polarizing and timely issue that makes your own feelings and beliefs a non-factor because everything on screen is so entertaining and flat-out awesome!
A lot of people seem to be comparing this to The Expendables and I don’t think this a good comparison. They both need to be viewed through different lenses to really “get” them, and of the two I think Machete is by far the more successful film. Though not perfect, Machete has fewer lapses and compromises even though it is exactly the type of film where that type of thing is supposed to be more acceptable. Machete is far more similar in tone, if not subject matter, to Piranha 3D. Together they are a one-two punch of exploitation, gore, and ridiculousness to end summer 2010 on a high-note. Piranha is a lighter and sillier film, but Machete has more substance and a clear level of genius behind it.
There’s not much to say about the storyline, everyone who saw Grindhouse three years ago knows what to expect. Danny Trejo’s Machete is a Mexican Federale-turned-illegal immigrant day laborer after a brush with Torrez (Steven Seagal), a powerful drug lord. Booth (Jeff Fahey), aid to Texas Senator McLaughlin (Robert De Niro) hires Machete to assassinate the senator in what is actually a plot to create sympathy for McLaughlin in the election. Now double-crossed and being hunted down by both Immigration Control and Torrez/Booth, Machete must become allies with a militant network of illegals to stop the corruption and stay alive. Some of the scenes feel a little forced and are clearly instances where they tried to shoehorn in shots from the original fake trailer. One of these is sadly Cheech Marin’s brief appearance as the shotgun wielding Padre. Based on the reaction that his character got in the trailer, I had hoped he would have a more integral part, but he feels largely tacked on an unfortunately is not as funny as you might expect.
Steven Seagal is similarly underutilized as Torrez, the real villain of the film. He takes a backseat to Jeff Fahey and Robert De Niro for too much of the film and his showdown with Machete in the end suffers from a lack of constant buildup. It’s awkward watching Seagal play a Mexican and he seems uncomfortable with the accent, but it almost helps the character in the spirit of the film. Jessica Alba lacks the toughness to be believable as an Immigration and Customs agent, but she has surprisingly good chemistry with Trejo and is a good foil and later ally for him throughout the film. Michelle Rodriguez is much better suited to her role as Luz, a badass chick who runs a taco truck as a front for her business to aid illegal immigrants in crossing the border and help them find jobs… and military-grade weapons. Until now I have never been a Michelle Rodriguez fan but this is the perfect role for her. Don Johnson is “introduced” to audiences worldwide as a brutal, Border Patrol crony of McLaughlin’s, but his screen time is also too limited and not played enough for comedy, and the less said about Lindsay Lohan’s “role” as Booth’s daughter, the better.
Machete is a true blast to watch and it is immensely satisfying to see something that started off as a joke three years ago grow into such an effective film based on positive fan reception alone. It tackles some meaty social and political issues but never gets bogged down by them, and for that it earns my respect.
Overall: 7/10
Directed by Robert Rodriguez. Written by Robert Rodriguez and Alvaro Rodriguez. Cinematography by Jimmy Lindsey. Edited by Rebecca Rodriguez. Production Design by Christopher Stull.
Starring Danny Trejo, Robert De Niro, Jessica Alba, Michelle Rodriguez, Jeff Fahey, Steven Seagal, Cheech Marin, Lindsay Lohan, and Don Johnson
