All Movie Guide

A clumsy criminal is put in a position where he not only has to save his own skin, but that of his girlfriend in this comedy with strong undercurrents of romance. Jerry Welbach (Brad Pitt) is a low-level Mafia "mechanic" whose ineptitude is countered by frequent (but unpredictable) bursts of dumb luck. Jerry's girlfriend Samantha (Julia Roberts) wants him to get out of the business, and after his latest blunder lands capo Arnold Margolese (Gene Hackman) in jail, so does mid-level crime kingpin Bernie Nayman (Bob Balaban). But Bernie insists that Jerry do one last errand for the mob before they let him find employment elsewhere -- he has to go to Mexico and recover a rare and very valuable pistol, which is said to be cursed. While Samantha objects to Jerry taking the assignment, he isn't in much of a position to argue; Jerry heads south of the border, while Samantha, in a huff, sets out for Las Vegas. Once in Mexico, Jerry finds the pistol easily enough, but making his way back to the States proves to be an unexpected challenge. Meanwhile, Jerry's superiors want insurance that he'll return with the goods, so they hire Leroy (James Gandolfini), a hitman, to kidnap Samantha and hold her hostage until Jerry comes back. However, Samantha and Leroy quickly strike up a friendship, and she soon learns the gunman has a sensitive side he doesn't show to the world -- along with a few other secrets. The Mexican marked the first screen pairing for mega-stars Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt -- though, given the film's narrative arc, they play only a handful of scenes together. The film was directed by Gore Verbinski, who won awards for his work in commercials before breaking through with the quirky family comedy Mouse Hunt. Mark Deming

New York Times

It is a screwball road film whose plot skids through a succession of cleverly placed hairpin turns as it juggles goofy fantasy, light social commentary and off-kilter violence…In stealing the movie from its attractive co-stars, Mr. Gandolfini does them a favor by allowing them to relax. Although Ms. Roberts is as winsome as ever…In the wacky, goofy, peripatetic, therapy-besotted world of Mobsters Who Love Antique Pistols and the Women Who Love Them, they're O.K., I'm O.K., you're O.K., and everyone's O.K. But this is Hollywood, after all. And with Julia and Brad and the new-and-improved Tony Soprano linking arms, how could it be otherwise? Stephen Holden

Product Details

• UPC: 667068782226
• Source: DREAMWORKS VIDEO
• Region Code: 1
• Aspect Ratio: Cinemascope (2.35:1)
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English
• Time: 2:03:00
• Sales Rank: 5,421

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