The action comedy “Gringo” reached $4 million worldwide on its opening week.
Credit: @IMDB
Australian film director and stuntman, Nash Edgerton, produced a hilarious movie with the actors David Oyelowo, Charlize Theron and Joel Edgerton. The R-rated movie lasted an hour and 50 minutes, released in the United States March 9 by STXinternational and Amazon Studios. At 45years old, Edgerton is famous for his stunts in popular movies like “The Wolverine,” “The Great Gatsby” and “The Gift.”
Comedic actors Joel Edgerton and Charlize Theron played awful characters; luckily, they are so loveable that it is hard to take them seriously.
Joel Edgerton plays a corrupt co-founder of a pharmaceutical company based in Chicago by the name of Promethium. He and his business partner, Elaine Markinson, played by Charlize Theron, are plotting to mass produce a pill called Cannabaxa, a marijuana pill, in Mexico. The pill would allow them to rule the market because the medicinal marijuana is legalized in various states.
The plot sounds quite familiar as many marijuana entrepreneurs did the same thing anticipating California’s recent legalization of marijuana. In this movie, it is portrayed as a wicked plan which America’s Drug Enforcement Agency intends to dismiss, “Sicario” style of course.
Nash Edgerton has a previous background in stunt-coordination which is displayed throughout the film. His experience in stunts is a perfect explanation as to why “Gringo” becomes bloody and randomly violent without warning. It added a combination of comedy and action—in other words, a comedic thriller.
To manage the facility in Mexico, Richard finds a pathetic man to manipulate, Harold Soyinka, who is played by David Oyelowo; Harold has a mid-level job at Cannabax Technolgies, Inc. He and Richard have been acquainted since college, which leads him to believe Richard is his friend.
The two men and Elaine travel to Mexico and Harold slowly begins to find out the truth about Richard, who he considered his friend. He also discovers things about the factory that employs him; these harsh realities leave him to decide if he will follow the rules or break them.
His character is realistic because he acts the way any sane person would in the midst of mayhem. The other two are quite hard to like; Richard is a cocky, smarty-pants who does not respect anybody and Elaine is selfish and outspoken.
The purpose of this trip is to tie loose ends before the company is sold, which would eventually leave Harold without a job. In Mexico, the plot further unfolds as Harold quickly goes missing and becomes the victim of a $5 million kidnapping scheme. These hilarious moments in dangerous situations are mainly what the hype about the movie was all about.
“Gringo” was a great film, unfortunately, it lacked focus. There were points in the movie that were quite significant that could have used more attention and added value. On the other hand, some points that were highlighted were unnecessarily drawn out or mentioned in the first place. There were also some exciting parts of the movie that would only be spoiled if included, it even starts off with a bang. The film features Harold’s wife played by Thandie Newton who is up to no good, as well as Richard’s brother, played by Sharlto Copley, a reformed mercenary who is always down to do whatever is necessary. “Gringo” is a hilarious movie, and
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 paws
