Machete Kills

Opening and concluding his film with a fake trailer for Machete Kills Again…In Space, independent filmmaker Robert Rodriguez continues to display his nostalgia for cheesy exploitation B-movies, collaborating with Danny Trejo on this sequel. This time, the stoic titular hitman (Trejo) is offered not only redemption but also American citizenship from the President of the United States (Charlie Sheen) if he can stop crazed Mexican revolutionary Marcos Mendez (Demian Bichir) from firing nuclear missiles at Washington, D.C. Machete will be working with Miss San Antonio (Amber Heard). “You know Mexico. Hell, you are Mexico!” tequila-swilling, babe-boffing President Rathcock tells Machete, who infiltrates Mendez's Acapulco compound, where he discovers that the erstwhile drug lord not only suffers from multiple personality disorder but also has a missile launching device implanted in his chest. Machete must take Mendez to the bomb's creator, a diabolical arms dealer/religious crackpot named Luther Voz (Mel Gibson), who has taken refuge in outer space. Michelle Rodriguez and Jessica Alba reprise earlier characters, while Spy Kids' Alexa Vega has grown into a nubile sexpot, working here with Sofia Vergara, who plays a man-hating madam who has transformed her female organs into lethal weapons. Lady Gaga, Antonio Banderas, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Walt Goggins are also on hand. Unfortunately, the tedious plot only serves as a vehicle for the seemingly endless—and senseless—violence. Not recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include a “making-of” featurette (20 min.), deleted and extended scenes (20 min.), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are bonus DVD, digital, and UltraViolet copies of the film. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a disappointing film.] (S. Granger)