Gringo is unique, to say the least. I really don't know what it's trying to be. Thank God it's under 2 hours though.
At the outset, this movie has clear tonal issues. It's listed as a "black comedy" but it's more of an action, drama, heist-ish, kinda funny movie. It's exhausting. There are beats that feel like they're played as an extra forced soap opera and they're given significant amounts of runtime. Weird edits that feel like they don't belong and plotlines that don't really go anywhere just make Gringo feel lost and confusing.
The BIGGEST problem with Gringo is the story or the screenplay or probably both. There are no logical reasons for every one of these characters to be in this convoluted story that doesn't feel like it needs to be told at all. I wasn't following a lot of it. Characters are pushed in and pulled out and the audience isn't given a second to understand their motives.
I was thinking Joel Edgerton's charisma would be a thing of beauty in a "dark comedy" like this one but he feels wasted. Amanda Seyfried has literally no reason to be in this mess. Her character is so irrelevant it remains to be seen why they spent so much money just to put her in 5 scenes. The "villain" I think is a drug lord by the name of Black Panther (seriously) and he just disappears halfway through the movie just to show up and act like he's supposed to be menacing.
The two saving graces of the film are two of the leads: David Oyelowo and Charlize Theron. Theron is hilarious at the get-go. There aren't many gags but the best ones usually revolve around her character. David Oyelowo really wants for this story of his character to work but it doesn't at all. His charisma and comic timing salvaged it a bit for me, though.
But don't waste your money, don't see this....or a Wrinkle in Time.
Gringo is unique, to say the least. I really don't know what it's trying to be. Thank God it's under 2 hours though.
At the outset, this movie has clear tonal issues. It's listed as a "black comedy" but it's more of an action, drama, heist-ish, kinda funny movie. It's exhausting. There are beats that feel like they're played as an extra forced soap opera and they're given significant amounts of runtime. Weird edits that feel like they don't belong and plotlines that don't really go anywhere just make Gringo feel lost and confusing.
The BIGGEST problem with Gringo is the story or the screenplay or probably both. There are no logical reasons for every one of these characters to be in this convoluted story that doesn't feel like it needs to be told at all. I wasn't following a lot of it. Characters are pushed in and pulled out and the audience isn't given a second to understand their motives.
I was thinking Joel Edgerton's charisma would be a thing of beauty in a "dark comedy" like this one but he feels wasted. Amanda Seyfried has literally no reason to be in this mess. Her character is so irrelevant it remains to be seen why they spent so much money just to put her in 5 scenes. The "villain" I think is a drug lord by the name of Black Panther (seriously) and he just disappears halfway through the movie just to show up and act like he's supposed to be menacing.
The two saving graces of the film are two of the leads: David Oyelowo and Charlize Theron. Theron is hilarious at the get-go. There aren't many gags but the best ones usually revolve around her character. David Oyelowo really wants for this story of his character to work but it doesn't at all. His charisma and comic timing salvaged it a bit for me, though.
But don't waste your money, don't see this....or a Wrinkle in Time.
