Reviewed by Rama Gaind.
Director: Nash Edgerton, Roadshow Entertainment.
Cast: David Oyelowo, Charlize Theron, Joel Edgerton, Amanda Seyfried, Thandie Newton, Sharlto Copley, Paris Jackson.
The context is always important when it comes to the use of the word gringo, particularly as it’s a word where he exact meaning, often with its demonstrative quality, can fluctuate with geography and standpoint.
It’s a word that can be impartial, a term of affection, can offend and nearly always refers to foreigners in a Spanish-speaking country. Not in this instance, as Gringo is an enjoyable American crime comedy with an exemplary cast.
It follows a mild-mannered businessman Harold Soyinka (Oyelowo), who is sent to Mexico to deliver an experimental marijuana pill when he is kidnapped by a drug cartel.
Crossing the line from law-abiding citizen to wanted criminal, Harold fights to survive an increasingly dangerous situation that raises the question of whether he is out of his depth or two steps ahead.
Now he’s at the mercy of local drug lords, a black ops mercenary and backstabbing colleagues. Harold has a mid-level job at a Chicago pharma company where his best friend since college, Richard (Edgerton) is the co-president.
Gringo begins with a bang, with complications that also include Harold’s wife (Newton) who has been keeping a secret and Richard’s brother Mitch (Copley) a reformed mercenary who is not entirely closed to being tempted back into corruption.
Striking its own chord, the film can be implausible, at times, but with expected twists in the storyline, camera set-ups and an excellent cast.
A ‘corporate crime tale’ of consistent acidity some expectations are not met, but overall a zesty Blu-ray experience.
