Machete - Review

After the dismal results received by THE EXPENDABLES, Robert Rodriguez assembles a far more enjoyable action film with many stars that are actually given characterization. Though it has some of its own misjudgments, MACHETE is a highly violent entertainment ride with a straight face and a winking eye.

MACHETE started off as the opening fake trailer of the now cult theater event GRINDHOUSE. All of the trailer footage seemingly is included within this expansion. Even if it doesn't match up exactly, such as the odd placement of Cheech Marin in one moment, it is still a good running joke to see everything implemented. The only exception is his machete jacket, which only appears in the film's poster art. I thought he was going to bust it out in the coda or more importantly the big finale but instead the film ends in a confusing near pretentious mess.

Machete, as played by the nadir of badasses Danny Trejo, is a former Mexican cop turned into an illegal day laborer in Texas. Spurned and burned by his country and his enemies, he takes a job by a sleazy gruff businessman (Jeff Fahey) to assassinate a senator up for re-election. Instead of killing him, he is framed by another sniper planned by Fahey and goes on the run. Teaming up with two independent beautiful women (Michelle Rodriguez and Jessica Alba), Machete brings down the big heat on his former contractor and his connections. The connections of course lead back to the senator, played by Robert De Niro, and also some former enemies of Machete.

While there is a great pleasure to behold bountiful violence and black comedy, Rodriguez oddly changes the tone unexpectedly. One minute, you are with glee at seeing Machete use a certain body organ as a rope in an awesome stunt and the next minute you are given a straight debate on illegal immigration. Rodriguez has done this odd change-up before with bringing in social politics into his films, such as PLANET TERROR, but never this much sewed into the fabric. The viewer is nearly bombarded with fake political ads and constant close-ups on other illegal immigrants. Even when some of the issues do work, as with how businesses are the main force to make elected officials enact laws, they become so convoluted to follow and understand. The film has four main villains, only one of whom is actually later killed by Machete sadly, and the tangling between them help lead to the dissatisfaction of the climax.

But that is not to say that the film is a total verbal speech to viewers. The staged action and graphic violence is a true joy. The film has a great prologue where all the cliches are sended up but with new ideas put to use. You get a car impaling, limb dissections, fire-fights with severed hands on the trigger, a 360 degree multiple decapitation, and unnecessary nudity. You do get some more great moments of exploitation later, such as the as mentioned organ rope, but it does disappear a bit. The finale felt like an insult, as the blood becomes more cg-ed, the direction is badly blocked, and the carnage is nil.

Acting is usually a strong suit of Rodriguez in his adult themed films and it still is. Trejo is still a badass persona with fantastic one-liners and immense swagger. Michelle Rodriguez does well again playing her usual trope and Alba continues her stigma of only being able to act in Robert Rodriguez films. The supporting heavies are good with special mentions going out to Don Johnson as an under-used deranged border officer and a fat Steven Seagal as a Mexican drugpin. The only down-note is Lindsay Lohan who brings an entertainment black hole in her scenes. She is given a lame subplot, but her very dismal acting flat-lines any drama and will enrage any fans of MS. 45 in one of her later appearances. The music and score is great, though that is a plus and a given with Rodriguez.

MACHETE is simply a wonder even without seeing it. You can't really think of any film released to theaters to be headlined by Danny Trejo. Once you enter in its world, you will have some much needed escape but the political issues may sour the experience. Still, Rodriguez continues to showcase the power of grindhouse entertainment and do it with justice and commitment.

FINAL REVIEW: 3 / 5