From the opening titles with the look of the 1970’s style ‘grindhouse’ double features to include scratches visually and the soundtrack of the time, in “Machete” Danny Trejo stars as an Ex-Mexican Federale named Machete. After being nearly killed during a violent fight with a powerful drug-lord Torrez (Steven Seagal) and double-crossed by Michael Benz (Jeff Fahey), a local businessman and spin-doctor in cahoots with corrupt senator McLaughlin (Robert De Niro). Machete sets out for vengeance for being setup to take the fall!

Machete’s alliances include his "holy" Federale-turned-priest brother Padre (Cheech Marion) with a thing for pump-action shotguns; a taco lunch wagon owner and the secret head of the ‘underground network’ named Luz (Michelle Rodriguez); Michael Benz’s socialite daughter April (Lindsey Lohan); and Sartana (Jessica Alba), a persistent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent (ICE).

Robert Rodriguez and Ethan Maniquis's "Machete" is the first of the faux-trailers featured in 2007's "Grindhouse" to receive a feature-length treatment. If this is an example of the creative collaboration, we are in for quite a ride for the next feature-length story!

The veteran actors’ character portrayals were understatedly over the top and quite refreshing. Robert De Niro is likably despicable as the senator who will stop at nothing to win re-election! Steven Seagal, a martial arts action star of the 70’s and 80’s hasn’t lost a beat as the nemesis king-pen! Cheech Marin and Don Johnson, who teamed for the TV series ‘Nash Bridges (96’ – 2001), and Johnson’s starring in ‘Miami Vice’ (84’-90’), each brought a ‘swaggering’ touch to each of their roles. Jeff Fahey who’s appeared as numerous characters over the last thirty years is the perfect ‘spin-doctor’. Jessica Alba as the young ICE agent lets it all out as the ‘committed to justice’ law person! Lindsay Lohan surprisingly conveys the complicated daughter who errs on the side of justice. And Danny Trejo as the star will undoubtedly gain a whole new following as the ‘man of few words hero’ who gets the job done! A fun ride for a 2-hour break! 4 of 5 stars

Starring Danny Trejo, Robert De Niro, Jessica Alba, Steven Seagal, Michelle Rodriguez, Jeff Fahey, Cheech Marin, Don Johnson, Shea Whigham, and Lindsay Lohan.

Directors Ethan Maniquis & Robert Rodriguez; written by Robert Rodriguez & Álvaro Rodríguez. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation release. Rated R for strong bloody violence throughout, language, some sexual content and nudity. Runtime: 105 minutes.

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