film: review

> THE MEXICAN (2001)
A film starring Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt…a match made in heaven, right? Well, not exactly.

By John C. Lyons
Film Critic

Starring: Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt and James Gandolfini

Directed by: Gore Verbinski

Written by: J.H. Wyman

Genre: Action/Comedy

Our Rating: 6.5 out of 10

Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt (Samantha and Jerry) play a couple that can't seem to get their acts together. Most of the screen time shared by the two big stars is spent fighting with one another. Jerry is a washed out goofball who has to transport an ancient gun, "the mexican", across the border. Samantha does not approve of this line of work and after a few spats (some of the funniest moments in the film); Jerry heads for the border alone to get in lots of trouble while on his mission. This leaves his girlfriend back in the states to get in a lot of trouble with big mafia man James Gandolfini who comes looking for the gun. Gandolfini plays the usual tough-guy role, but his character literally carries the show here, and has some very surprising moments.

Gandolfini and Roberts share most of the screen time together (more so than Pitt and her) and therefore their chemistry works much better. I enjoyed the film, but I really wished that Brad and Julia had shared some more screen time together. The moments they are together were usually very well done and funny, however. All-around The Mexican is a good date movie, it has its funny moments, and Gandolfini is really good. However, I just wish that there would have been more to it, I was left feeling that the talent in this movie was greatly underused.

I saw this film at the Tinseltown theaters on upper Peach Street in Erie.

PROs: Acting. Some humorous relationship spats. James Gandolfini.

CONs: Come on! Julia and Brad! Two of the best actors in modern film, and they are extremely underused!

(01-0504)

related links:

The Mexican - official site