Review of Get the Gringo (2012) by Robyn N — 04 Aug 2013

Clearly, this is Mel Gibson's world and we just happen to be living in it. "Get the Gringo" is an over-the-top, ridiculous roller coaster ride of action and carnage. Nonetheless, it is an entertaining watch. "Get The Gringo," a.k.a "How I Spent My Summer Vacation," marks the return of Mel Gibson to the big screen in the kind of hard boiled career criminal role he can does well, something akin to his performance as Porter in "Payback" (1999). The film also marks the directorial debut of Adrian Grunberg, who previously worked as assistant director on two of Gibson's recent movies. Denied a wide cinema release in the US, presumably due to the controversy surrounding Gibson and his well-documented "problems," it may also have been due in part to the film's refreshingly un-PC content.

Our introduction to Driver (Gibson), via a high-speed chase along the Mexican border, is with a wounded partner slowly dying in the back seat with a bag full of cash. A last ditch attempt to escape pursuit; he crashes the car through the border wall, where he is picked up by corrupt Mexican law enforcement, who proceed to steal the already stolen money. Dumped in El Pueblito, similar to a prison set in a slum like atmosphere, Driver must adapt to the world he's been thrust into, and utilize his particular skill set to his advantage in order to survive, all the while keeping one eye on how to get his money back. He can't do this alone however, and he forges an unlikely bond with a kid (Kevin Hernandez), who teaches him the ropes. With the kid's help he quickly gets to grips with El Pueblito's hierarchy and begins the task of recovering his stolen cash. He isn't the only one interested in getting the money back as Frank (Peter Stormare), the gangster who the cash belonged to is also after driver. Gradually squeezed by all parties, Driver plays all the angles to manipulate the unfolding events to his own advantage.

Entertaining enough for what it is, it moves briskly with plenty of action and nonsensical violence in a compact 95 minutes. Appreciable vehicle for Gibson to exhibit his everlasting action hero persona, Whether or not to watch this film ultimately comes down to asking yourself one question. Just how much Mel Gibson can you take in one sitting?