The Mexican

This movie may be the embodiment of the not so old saying, “it insists upon itself.” There’s plenty in this story to like, but there’s also plenty that comes across as superfluous, too, particularly on the Julia Roberts side of the narrative. The stuff that delves into the inner workings of her and Brad Pitt's relationship, while well meaning and occasionally entertaining, overall comes across as a diversion from the core of the story. A tighter focus on Pitt's side of the action would have made for a sharper, more interesting film. This movie wears its antecedents—particularly Pulp Fiction—on its sleeve, though without quite the same level of accomplishment. You can almost see the movie within this movie that Tarantino would have made, and that flick would have been a riot. As it is, this one comes across as somewhat amusing and entertaining, but definitely not exactly what it could have been. You aim, you shoot…and sometimes you get a misfire.