The first
Machete from 2010 was a dark and gruesome nod to hardcore 80s action films, which were equal parts hardcore and ludicrous. Need proof? Take another look at Stallone in
Cobra, a film which is damn near as silly as anything Robert Rodriguez could ever dream up. Surprisingly, this sequel is more of a send-up of James Bond's sci-fi adventures--though the outer space intrigue is surely cross-pollinated with that 80s action vibe that the director is so fond of. Bolder, far more obnoxious, and ten times as absurd as its predecessor,
Machete Kills is an utterly ridiculous motion picture that nearly crumbles under the weight of all the insanity splattered across the screen. Yet everyone involved is clearly having a blast, and viewers who don't expect anything more from
Machete Kills than a goofy good time will surely be entertained. Note: if you're expecting something more from
Machete Kills, that's a you-problem, not a
Machete Kills-problem.
I don't know where they found that Carlos Estevez guy, but he was awesome as the president, and Mel Gibson was a terrific villain. The best part in the picture may have belonged to Demian Bichir as a schizophrenic who constantly veers from noble good guy to crazed villain as his various personalities rage across the scene. Of course, Rodriguez has always been down with girl power, and Michelle Rodriguez and Amber Heard are both incredibly badass (and hot) in this action/sci-fi mash-up. The score is fantastic, the laughs are frequent, and while the picture is totally bonkers, it somehow manages to keep the viewer interested while gleefully going overboard with cartoonish violence and loads of gore. I loved
Grindhouse, I dug
Machete (was Fahey badass or what?), and
Machete Kills was another fun flick from the modern master of grindhouse filmmaking.
Final Grade: B
Bonus Points: There was a brief homage to
The Road Warrior that made me stand up and applaud.
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| Everyone has a good time in Machete Kills. |
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