Review of Get the Gringo (2012) by Maksim B — 10 Jun 2012

Surprisingly fresh, entertaining and original, Get The Gringo (How I Spent My Summer Vacation) is definitely a bold and raunchy comedy with its very macho, but also very human moments. Relying on the long-forgotten renegade character image of Mel Gibson, this movie is so far the most meaningful and most enjoyable R-rated comedy of this year.

The movie fully exploits and returns to the classic old-school bad-ass image of Mel Gibson. A driver running from the cops, with car full of dollars, finds himself in Mexico and then thanks to the local corrupted cops in a Mexican prison. And when one would start thinking about how boring this movie would be, he/she is introduced to the strangest prison in the world: or simply the supposed Mexican reality. The plot is somehow chaotic, involving corrupted cops, a kid with health issues and even a glimpse of hidden romance, but all this mumbo-jumbo suits perfectly the chaotic eco-system and social richness of the prison.

What is really of greatest importance (besides the absolute fun) in Adrian Grunberg's movie is the fact Mel Gibson returns to its best shape, to what made him a star. His role of a maverick, of a completely strange renegade bring us to the old Gibson times. He is as unpretentious as the whole movie and he seems to enjoy every single minute of his on screen time. Gibson and Grunberg are bold enough to depict the absolutely cult scene (given the values nowadays) when Gibson gives a 10-years old boy a cigarette.

In conclusion, Get The Gringo is a wonderful summer-mood delivery, which will make the audience laugh, enjoy Mel Gibson's performance and have actually quite a good time! It is really unfortunate that such a pleasant delivery did not receive the US distribution chance which it deserved, simply because Gibson is back to his old and cool best shape.