Review of Bandidas (2009) by Laurel S — 05 Apr 2011

Bandidas is unrepentant fun. Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz begin as opposites in a familiar western theme of revenge against the greedy out to murder, steal, and swindle their land. Initially distrustful of each other, fate soon unites the two feminine heroines against the unscrupulous Tyler Jackson (Dwight Yoakam), ultimately prevailing in this swashbuckling action comedy. This film is multiculturalism at its funniest; it's a joint French/Mexican/American production starring the Spanish Cruz, the Mexican Hayek, filmed by two Norwegian directors, shot in Mexico.

The movie is over the top all the way. It features bank robbery basic training, pratfalls galore, banjos, ice skates, and even "Matrix-y" type slow-mo action. This is the funniest western since Shanghai Noon, but it didn't have catfights. Veteran comedic comrade Steve Zahn is hilarious as the crime scene expert who joins forces with the bad girl robin hoods. Watching his "seduction "scene with Cruz and Hayek, I concluded that he must be the luckiest man in the history of motion pictures!

These leading ladies complement each other like more traditional action duos. You root for them, knowing they'll triumph in the end. They're a dynamic pair alright, and I'm not just talking about their epic chests! In the end, they ride off into the sunset, their legend only to increase.