LATE REVIEW! Machete Kills review

MACHETE KILLS:

OVER THE TOP, VIOLENT, AND INCREDIBLY STUPID, BUT VERY ENTERTAINING!

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: ** 1/2 out of 4

OPEN ROAD FILMS

Danny Trejo back in action as Machete in Machete Kills

            Director Robert Rodriguez (El Mariachi trilogy, Sin City, Grindhouse) continues the journey of Mexican action hero, Machete in the sequel to his 2010 predecessor, Machete, this time, Machete Kills, and boy is it stupid?

            Like the first movie, Danny Trejo (Spy Kids, Grindhouse) reprises his role as ex-Federale agent, Machete, accompanying him in the sequel are Michelle Rodriguez (Avatar, Resident Evil, Battle: Los Angeles), Mel Gibson (Lethal Weapon, Braveheart), Sofia Vergara (Modern Family), Amber Heard (Zombieland, Friday Night Lights, Pineapple Express), Cuba Gooding Jr. (Radio, Pearl Harbor), Antonio Banderas (Desperado, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Spy Kids), Lady Gaga, introducing Carlos Estevez as the president, and special guest star, Leonardo DiCaprio as the Man in the Silver Mask (actor subject to change).

            The film begins in a similar way Grindhouse started, with a fake trailer of the newest Machete movie, Machete Kills Again…In Space. Followed by action hero, Machete Cortez being sent on an important assignment by the president of the United States to go into Mexico and take down a power-mad terrorist, Mendez (Demian Bichir-Savages) and an eccentric billionaire arms-dealer (Mel Gibson), who have a plan to spread war and anarchy all over the world.

            With the help of Machete’s companion, Luz/Shé (Michelle Rodriguez) and her crew, he’ll rise up to the challenge and stop these madmen from plunging the world into chaos, through a montage of laughably implausible action scenes and over the top violence.

            Machete Kills lacks big time in plot and character development and seems to focus more on its bloody violence and action, but for a movie like this, it makes it more fun and entertaining. Compared to the first Machete however, that’s where things get tricky, I thought the first film was superior in originality and story, but this new movie is great with its intense and stupid action scenes.

            The movie fails in well-executed storytelling or character development, but who cares? It’s one of those popcorn flicks that are so extreme and insane that it’s funny, just like its predecessor.

            A heavy dose of brutal violence and gore, over the top stunts and action, silly dialogue, and a talented and witty cast is what makes Machete Kills work as an action film…and perhaps as a comedy too.