This film addresses a theme: couple relationships. The subject is the action base and is present even in the legend around the ill- fated gun which gives its name to the film. Directed by Gore Verbinski, the film revolves around the search for an old pistol, ordered by an American mobster to one of his henchmen. It turns out that the henchmen is going through a crisis in courtship and his girlfriend turns out to follow him to Mexico, along with other potentially interested in obtaining the ancient relic.The main actors in this movie are Brad Pitt (Jerry on paper), Julia Roberts (as Samantha, Jerry's girlfriend), James Gandolfini (as Winston killer) and Gene Hackman (in the role of Margolese, the big boss). Pitt works well in his role, managing to be very good in action scenes and very funny in the most comic parts. Julia Roberts equals him in humor and his boldness makes an excellent counterpoint to the more timid personality Jerry. Its nice to see that the way Pitt and Roberts counteracted this film, giving greater strength to Their fictional relationship. The sets and costumes were well thought out and make use of an elegant and friendly way, the stereotypes about Mexicans.Not being a memorable film, it is certainly an interesting movie, good for a leisurely late afternoon. Entertains the audience very well, and that is enough for an openly unpretentious film like this.

I can remember the hoopla surrounding the "great pairing of Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts" at the time of 2001 and the backlash when it was realized they shared such little screen time together. What I found (and many others) interesting was how James Gandolfini (RIP) takes the film right from them as a gay hit-man needing his boss (supposedly Gene Hackman's Margolese) to get a historical artifact found in a mine not long ago…a gun made by a poor gunsmith with a heart-shaped bullet chamber, called The Mexican. Sent to retrieve the gun is Pitt by the dour, double-crossing Bob Balaban for Hackman unaware (for a bit until he is privy to a conversation) that he is to be off'd by "always just trying to do his part and nothing more", JK Simmons (another extraordinary scene-stealing supporting character actor) once in Mexico after the mission is successful. What happens to Pitt along the way is one of those "you gotta be kidding me" journeys full of hard luck and difficulty. Roberts is kidnapped by Gandolfini as "leverage" so that Pitt will do as he is supposed to without any attempt to achieve financial gain for himself. What happens between Gandolfini and Roberts is actually the true heart and soul of the film because they learn a lot about themselves through the constant appraisal of her relationship with Pitt. In a second viewing of the film (the first was so agonizing I hadn't watched this in thirteen years), I realized that if Pitt and Roberts, considering the characters they are trapped in, had been on screen any longer than necessary, the experience would have been even more abrasive than it already turned out to be. Roberts can be so likable when sharing time with Gandolfini and an absolute pariah when with Pitt, I thought I was watching two different characters on screen. Pitt works the "aw shucks, I'm just trying to keep from being killed and get the gun to where it needs to go" part throughout, taking a lot of frustrating developments (that Balaban wanted him dead, that his car is stolen, that a cop takes the gun, that he must tolerate locals and their firecrackers, guns going off in the air, the unfortunate accidental death of Margolese' grandson thanks to the celebration that Pitt is annoyed by, a passport swap accident, interference in the mission of the gun) and holding onto his wits, even after Roberts seems to be okay and back with him. The constant bickering between Roberts and Pitt, seemingly presented as a charming humorous state of affairs in how they spend most of their time together, really gets old fast. Gandolfini's talk with Roberts before meeting Pitt about never giving up on love even when it appears enough is enough is probably one of the best (if it wasn't for Hackman's lone scene about the Mexican's importance) scenes in the film. The violence that does happen in the film is primarily just an example of the nature of Pitt's obligation to gangsters (he is a lousy driver and hit Margolese' car which was carrying a live body in the trunk, leading to Margolese' arrest!), and how it is bound to happen as the Mexican is a desirable artifact perhaps worth quite a pretty penny. Balaban deadpans in the same league as Bill Murray so his stone cold face doling out orders and insults gives him a great villain for the film here. A mixed bag, in my opinion, that could have been better if Pitt and Roberts been more compatible and less combative as a couple in the film. The gun's back story is amusingly presented in differing ways by each person who tells it to Pitt, not particularly knowledgeable in the gun's history but just wanting his situation to be over. Gandolfini and Roberts in the diner discussing his sexual orientation is sweet.

Jerry Welbach (Brad Pitt) has to bring back a pistol called 'The Mexican' with a guy back from Mexico as his next job for the mob. His girlfriend Samantha Barzel (Julia Roberts) is sick of his mob jobs. He decides to go with the mob. Only Samantha gets kidnapped, and Jerry has a lot of difficulties delivering the cursed gun.I think they're suppose to be white trash characters. They're way too pretty. Having these two A-listers may not be the right move. And it doesn't quite work as a comedy. Both Pitt and Roberts try very hard to be wacky. Pitt especially try hard to be stupid. The story is idiosyncratic wallowing in its quirkiness. None of it is particularly funny. However James Gandolfini does take an interesting turn as the kidnapper.

Take "All About Steve" (cute dysfunctional romcom), toss in "3 Days in the Valley" (gritty crime drama), a little bit of "Silver Streak" (roadcom) and a hint of "Deathtrap" or possibly "Fargo" (dark comedy), then whip them all mercilessly with an eggbeater until it's unrecognizable, bake at 425 degrees for 2 hrs 3 mins, and there you have "The Mexican".If you enjoyed all the films I mentioned above, you'll like this. It's polished, as any Hollywood flick with Brad Pitt & Julia Roberts would be, but it's quirky and odd enough to set itself apart from the others. The story is about a lovable loser (Brad Pitt) and his crazy therapy-inducing girlfriend (Julia Roberts) who end up trapped in a bloody battle to get a cursed gun known as "The Mexican". The plot has plenty of twists & turns to keep you entertained on the surface. But the real story is about unlikely relationships: not just Brad & Julia's bipolar romance but also unlikely friendships & loyalties that spring up between kidnappers & kidnappees, assassins & victims, American profiteers & Mexican defenders... like a good Clint Eastwood movie ("The Unforgiven", "Gran Turino"), the point is that it's easy to apply labels, but how often do you get a good look at what's underneath?I mentioned that this is a dark comedy, and indeed there are about half a dozen killings. What makes it different from, say Pulp Fiction or Heathers, is that the film doesn't gloss over the deaths with comedic gags. That's where this film is unusual... It has a place for comedy, and it has a place for tragedy. It doesn't really mix the two. Thus you may find your emotions wrenched around a bit, and that may be disorienting to some viewers. But if you're ready for a wild ride (exactly what this movie claims to be), you'll love it. And it has a cool dog in it too.Other good movies in the same genre include "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" (Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie), the hilarious "My Cousin Vinny" (Joe Pesci, Marisa Tomei) and the classic "Foul Play" (Chevy Chase & Goldie Hawn).