"Machete" is the latest from Robert Rodriguez ("Desperado", "From Dusk Til Dawn", the Planet Terror segment of "Grindhouse") and Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer's worst nightmare. Danny Trejo stars as Machete, he's one bad dude you don't want to mess with. An Ex-federali who was messed over by his government so he comes to America where he works as a day laborer. He finds friendly forces in The Network. The Network is an underground organization of illegals and those friendly to their cause. However, Jessica Alba's I.C.E. agent is looking to deport some illegals.

Machete is given an offer of $150,000 to assassinate a fiercely anti-immigrant senator (Robert DeNiro in a performance he seems to relish). He is then double crossed by those who hired him and they are looking to eliminate Machete so their secrets don't get exposed. Machete finds sympathy with The Network and an unlikely ally in Alba's I.C.E. agent as old enemies and new enemies conspire to get rid of Machete but they don't know just what they are in for as Machete is ready for them.

"Machete" is alternately an homage and spoof of explotiation and grindhose action films. It's not as sustained as Rodriguez and Tarantino's lengthy "Grindhouse" as there are a few lulls but when it clicks it's really clicks. Machete is a fun ride buoyed by a cast who are giving the roles their all and are obviously having a lot of fun knowing exactly the kind of film that they are making. Cheech Marin plays Machete's Priest brother who helps Machete along the way. Michelle Rodriguez is great as "She" the head of The Network. One of the flaws in the film is the casting of Steven Seagal as the major heavy. He doesn't really pull off what is needed in the role and very much underperforms compared to the rest of the cast. Jessica Alba is good but has been better. In the end, this is Danny Trejo's film and he carries the film with a pitch-perfect performance. It doesn't all jell but it comes close. It's an ambitious but uneven film.

Bottom Line: If you liked "Grindhouse", run, don't walk to see "Machete". It's a fun action thrill ride sure to please action fans who have a sense of humor and gore fans alike. More uneven than the creation that spawned it but It's extremely bloody fun and if that sounds like your thing then you are in for a good time. "Machete" is spirited fun and more successful than the B-movie horror remake "Piranha 3D".  Not for the prudish or faint of heart.

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