ReelBob: ‘Gringo’ ★★
By Bob Bloom
The hapless-hero subgenre of comedy has been around for decades, serving as a springboard of funny situations for actors such as Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, W.C. Fields, Bob Hope and Danny Kaye.
In this type of film, the protagonist is often looked down upon by others as clumsy, bumbling and a bit cowardly, and always is underestimated. He is often emasculated or betrayed by a wife or girlfriend.
Until the last reel, that is, when he — or at times, she — rises up, discovers their true strength and outsmarts and, or bests everyone.
In a sense, this is the trajectory of “Gringo” — at least for about half the movie.
David Oyelowo stars as Harold Soyinka, a middle manager at a Chicago pharmaceutical company, who is continually walked over by his bosses, Richard (Joel Edgerton) and Elaine (Charlize Theron).
Harold, who oversees the company’s drug-making facility in Mexico, is accompanied by Richard and Elaine on his latest visit to the plant.
In Mexico, things start going horribly wrong for Harold. He learns that his bosses are lying to him, that something is wrong at the facility and that, worst of all, his wife is having an affair and planning to leave him.
Harold, as you would expect, is devastated. He decides to get even, creating a fake kidnapping scenario from which he expects to net millions.
Things go south, of course, and so does the film, as it begins growing darker and darker.
“Gringo” is an undercooked stew. Subplots spring up like weeds in an untended garden.
Plus, the film’s first-rate cast, which also includes Amanda Seyfried, Sharlto Copley and Thandie Newton, fails to utilize their full potential. That is especially true of Seyfried and Newton, who are wasted in thankless and underwritten roles.
The comic situations are mostly mean spirited, sexist and violent.
Keeping the movie grounded is Oyelowo’s performance. At first, it seems he is a helpless schmo, outfoxed by everyone around him.
But as “Gringo” progresses, Oyelowo begins to display a growth that allows him — if not take control — than at least have a say in all the crazy machinations swirling around him.
Oyelowo, who has proven his dramatic chops with his work in “Selma” and “A United Kingdom,” among others, shows a flair for comedy. Unfortunately, “Gringo” mostly undermines his efforts.
Edgerton and Theron are cartoonish and over-the-top in their turns as, respectively, the drug-company president who believes he’s smarter than he really is and the horny former beauty queen without morals and scruples.
Unfortunately, director Nash Edgerton (Joel’s brother) cannot keep a lid on the disjointed subplots. No matter how hard he tries, he cannot make them march in step.
“Gringo” has some funny moments; it also has some gross and violent sequences that take you aback and make you wonder if the film is indeed a comedy. It’s more a collection of gags than a cohesive whole.
Overall, “Gringo” is dumb, nasty, uninspired and forgettable.
I am a member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. My reviews appear at ReelBob (reelbob.com) and Rottentomatoes (www.rottentomatoes.com). I also review Blu-rays and DVDs. I can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com or on Twitter @ReelBobBloom. Links to my reviews can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn.
GRINGO
2 stars out of 4
(R), graphic violence, language, sexual content