Movie review: 'Machete'

Around this time last year, Tarantino painted his masterpiece with Inglourious Basterds.  Well his compadre  Robert Rodriguez, attempted to do the same with Machete.  Rodriguez didn't deliver a masterpiece in this 105 minute comedic-massacre.  He did provide a nice greatest hits compilation though.  By constantly playing the power chord of bloody CGI and harmonizing with audacious characters.

Rodriguez takes the violence, and basic storyboard, from his previous works (Desperado, Once Upon a Time in Mexico) and goes over-the-top with it.  Which relies heavily on CGI and quick cuts by the camera.  This execution isn't all that innovative but it sure is fun.  What really makes Machete a capstone-like course in this genre, is the premise constructed.  It may act as a social commentary yet the best part is that all angles tie in and actually provide a bit of substance.

Machete (Danny Trejo) is a Federale who gets double-crossed by his people who are in the "pockets" of Mexican drug lord Torrez (Steven Seagal).  Torrez brutally murders Machete's wife and leaves him for dead.  Three years later, we see Machete in Texas trying to make ends meet.  Also happening at this time, is a big dispute regarding illegal aliens crossing the borders.  A strong initiative led by Senator McLaughlin (Robert De Niro), focuses on putting up an electric fence to solve the illegal immigrant scenario.  Right by the Senator's side is his personal aide, the seemingly sophisticated Booth (Jeff Fahey).

Booth randomly selects Machete to perform an assassination on a political leader to help get the fence building ramped up.  However, Machete is set up and framed by Booth and he is now used as propaganda to get McLaughlin re-elected so he can start building the wall around our borders.  Machete should be on the run.  Instead, he becomes the hunter and is given protection by fellow illegal Luz (Michelle Rodriguez).  She is running her own version of the underground railroad and has "the network" backing her up.  Meanwhile, until the fence is built, McLaughlin has hired mercenaries led by Lt. Stillman (Don Johnson) to execute any person trying to get into Texas.

As Machete tries to figure out why he was framed, while slicing through anyone in his path, he receives help from an unlikely source in U.S. Immigration officer Sartana (Jessica Alba).  Through their "diligent" efforts, Machete learns that an old foe is the true puppet master in this political ploy.

Seems like a lot of plot points for a movie titled Machete.  Audiences who have an urge to see this would have been pleased just to watch the blood-bath.  And there is plenty of blood and sixty feet of intestines on display (a hilarious scene).  As an added bonus, they are treated to a story that is both relevant to society and paced smoothly all things considered.  During the action sequences involving big blades carving up flesh, the flick knows to wink at the audience while these sequences are going on.  The script and direction understands when to have a laugh at itself and when to hunker down and get somewhat serious to help move this piece along and keep everyone vested in this story.  All while closing out many of the scenes with numerous chunks of body parts left on the floor.

Among the performers already mentioned, a few Rodriguez staples make appearances.  Cheech Marin shines in cameo mode as Machete's priestly brother, who has the mouth of a truck driver.  Tom Savini shows up as a special hitman ordered off the Internet.  Then a new one gets the call in Lindsay Lohan.  Who gets a meatier (irony much) role than expected as Booth's daughter.  The whole Booth family mildly-spoofs Lohan's family depiction via today's press.  Toward the end, her character beats a dead horse though.  Speaking of the end, the flick was extremely fun and provocative up until the clichéd climatic battle where all the story lines come together and explode.  It felt very similar to a comedian having one great joke and they try to drag it out as long as they possibly can.  You almost want to get on stage (or behind the camera) and say you had me at the first cheesy line of dialogue and decapitation.

Overall, Machete matches up with the expectations and exceeds in some departments.  Having a borderline provocative story was very unexpected yet graciously welcomed.  Danny Trejo as a lead plays well with the cast, for they all have a nice chemistry between them.  Despite a few continuity quirks within the set pieces, the production value meshes perfectly with the delivery.  Robert Rodriguez and Tarantino have made a living off this style of film.  In this case, Machete is a cut above the rest!

Machete is rated R (for everything) and opens in the Tampa Bay market Friday.

4 out of 5 stars (Please fix my star rating meter Examiner!)