I usually look forward to Rodriguez’s very cool style, ‘Mexploitation’ movies but Machete is more tongue-in-cheek than previous all-out stylised revenge movies like Desperado and El Mariachi. What was cool about his stories was the simplicity. Here, and since Once Upon A Time In Mexico, he has had a tendency to overcomplicate what should otherwise be a simple tale. The mass cast of names simply adds to the confusion (including an out of odds appearance from Lindsay Lohan). Machete’s not so handsome lead male, Trejo, is at points romantically involved with all Alba, Rodriguez and Lohan and is just one example of many questionable moments. Avoid unless you have a liking for extreme gore and kitsch.
**
iCRITIQUE 