Machete Kills: REVIEW

Following on from “Machete” and “Hobo with a Gun”, Machete Kills see’s the return of Machete Cortez (Danny Trejo) the former Mexican police detective turned spy. With Washington D.C. in danger of a missile attack the U.S. President Rathcock (Charlie Sheen) call’s on Machete to help save the country by offering him US Citizenship. Taking the president up on his offer, Machete encounters one madman after another on his mission to save the country, but will he achieve his mission or is this yet to be continued?

Written and Directed by Robert Rodriguez, this action film is what is widely known as an exploitation film,  this term is used to describe a film which is of low budget, low moral’s and artistic merit. Quite frankly the term couldn’t be more spot on. It is all of the above. Not only is the film riddled with low budget effects and props which are all too evident to see but the acting of some the big named cast members leaves a lot to be desired. However, saying that this is what makes the film actually quite funny and entertaining.

There isn’t a scene throughout the film which doesn’t have a piece of action or violence. We are presented with scenes of huge gun fights, lots of heads, arms all body parts being chopped off which quite frankly does make you squirm even if you can see the prop arm that has been chopped off look incredible unrealistic, it sort of add’s to its charm. What certainly stuck out for me was the weaponry used by the madam of the brothel, Madame Desdemona (Sofia Vergara) not only did she possess a double metal machine gun bra but the most hilarious strap on gun which fired bullets at the thrust of her hips.

We also encounter quite a random character, which didn’t make a whole lot of sense why it was part of the film. You wonder why I say it. Let me explain. El Chameleon, wasn’t just played by one individual, oh no, the reason behind this character’s name is its ability to change identity. We had the likes of Cuba Gooding Jnr, Antonio Banderas, Lady Gaga and Walton Goggins all play this part. The most hilarious had to be Lady Gaga; it was like the part was made for her.

As you can see so far we have a handful of big named actors lending there hand to the success of this film, it simple does not stop there. We are presented with Charlie Sheen nah Estevez (if you don’t get that reference, look it up) as President Rathcock; at least with Sheen he is a good sport and drops in his “winning” reference at one stage. We also have Mel Gibson as the madman Voz who wants to destroy the earth for his own mission into space. Also dropping into make appearances we have Jessica Alba, Sofia Vergara, Amber Heard, Vanessa Hudgens there are just too many to name them all but as for the acting style of each one. Well let’s say they did their jobs in sending up themselves and their characters.

Now it may come across that I have slated this film and you may be right, as soon as the trailer came on for the next in the series of these films (you’ll understand why when you see it) I was not impressed. Yes it was supposed to be funny but the humour was extremely childish. However, as the film went on I found myself warming up to it and by the time I left the cinema I was in stitches. This is one of those films that is so bad it’s actually good.

By Zehra Phelan