Review: Machete (2010)

Robert Rodriguez's Machete, starring Danny Trejo and Robert De Niro, began as a fake trailer in front of the 2007 Tarantino/Rodriguez project: Grindhouse. Much like the Grindhouse double feature itself, the Machete trailer's aim was to resemble a 1970's exploitation film. Having had such a success with Grindhouse, Rodriguez saw it fit to go ahead with the idea and make Machete a feature length film. Machete stars Trejo as an ex-Federale ("FBI, DEA, and CIA all rolled into one") who has been lead to believe that if he assassinates the senator (De Niro) he may continue to reside in the states and receive any legal documents required to do so. As events unfold, Machete finds that he is in business with the wrong individual and has been double crossed. However, what they failed to apprehend was that they messed with the wrong immigrant! Much like some recent reviews (Piranha 3D, Evil Dead 2), Machete doesn't promise much, but it delivers. Being inspired by exploitation films of the 70's, the flick does just that- it exploits every aspect of film. Scenes that are "ordinary" in normal films, are extraordinary in Machete. Ordinarily violent scenes are extra violent, as well as routinely cheesy lines being more frequent and extra cheesy. Machete defies gravity, physics, humanity, and pain tolerance- making it everything an action fan could dream of. The film also has special appearances from Cheech Maron, Don Johnson, and Lindsay Lohan (in an ironically appropriate role). For fans of exploitation films, Trejo, Rodriguez, action, De Niro, and babes, Machete pleases on all levels. Having started as a pre-movie gag trailer, Machete is an amazing adaptation of a simple idea and a really fun way to spend 105 minutes. I give Machete 31/2 stars.