Get the Gringo (2012) - Yeah, I Saw It

Director: Adrian Grunberg 

Writers: Adrian Grunberg, Mel Gibson, Stacey Perskie

Fleeing from the police, career criminal Jack Sanders makes way for the Mexican border, crash-landing himself into a Mexican prison dubbed “El Pueblito,” which is actually a prison village where families are allowed to live with their convicted relatives, but just like any prison there is a hierarchy that infests the system, and with the help of a ten-year old boy, Jack may not just survive the system, he might find his way out and retrieve the money that he stole in the first place.

Bottom line – this is Payback in a Mexican prison. Once again, there are no good guys, only bad people and innocent bystanders. The back story of Mel Gibson’s character is practically the same as Porter’s; the sly street skills are nearly identical. The only real difference is Jack’s personality. Jack Sanders hosts a livelier attitude as opposed to Porter’s cold disposition. Mel Gibson does another fine job making a character his own. The real standout is young Kevin Hernandez who plays Kid – Jack’s ten-year old, chain-smoking, foul mouthed, guiding light inside El Pueblito. His rage coupled with his love for his mother and rapid maturity is critical to the character and Kevin pulls it off effortlessly.

Backstabbers, killers, and greedy thugs make Get the Gringo a very familiar movie but a fun movie; it’s definitely a Mel Gibson film. He co-wrote it, produced it, and hired his assistant director from Apocalypto Adrian Grunberg to lead direct this movie, which is his first. The violence isn’t overdone but it is effective. El Pueblito is a character itself and it’s interesting to explore this peculiar pocket universe which the concept is slightly reminiscent of the drive-in from the 80’s Australian film Dead End Drive-In. If you’re one to hold a grudge and boycott Mel Gibson’s movies for his derogatory comments and actions that’s fine, don’t watch it, but if you’re one who just wants to enjoy a movie and escape from reality for an hour and a half, Get the Gringo is well worth your time.