Metascore
43 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 35 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 35
  2. Negative: 10 out of 35
  1. Gandolfini's fans expect something quirky whenever he shows up, and they'll get what they've bargained for.
  2. Reviewed by: Cody Clark
    82
    The plot that propels them (Pitt, Roberts) along separate story lines is both unusually character-driven and a hoot.
  3. 78
    Plenty of killings abound, nevertheless the film is a masterful -- albeit warped -- love-story-cum-road-movie that revolves around three of the most invigorating performances of the year.
  4. 75
    Gandolfini comes in from left field and provides a character with dimensions and surprises, bringing out the best in Roberts. Their dialogue scenes are the best reason to see the movie.
  5. Lively acting and stylish directing make this an engaging comedy-drama, although its attitude toward guns and violence is disconcertingly romantic.
  6. 75
    Surprisingly enjoyable.
  7. 75
    For a Hollywood studio movie, you see, The Mexican is remarkably strange and eccentric with a plot like a wrinkled bed sheet and a black comic sensibility that consistently swerves away from the cliches that have been established in this Age of Tarantino.
  8. Together, the two of them (Pitt, Roberts) are cute as a bug.
  9. 70
    Like many of his recent films, The Mexican would be an independent movie if Pitt, not to mention the queen of popcorn cinema, weren't part of the picture. This is not your typical star vehicle.
  10. This violently comic caper has some spunky charm going for it -- but has a lot of self-consciously hip, studied wackiness going against it.
  11. 60
    Apparently intended as a larky, character-driven adventure with dark underpinnings, this attenuated road movie was originally envisioned as a vehicle for relative unknowns, and might have worked better that way.
  12. The movie's biggest strength is a story that refuses to quit and almost makes sense within its own screwball logic.
  13. Reviewed by: Todd McCarthy
    60
    An intensely whimsical shaggy-dog crime story that ricochets between goofy violence and some endearing personal moments.
  14. A seemingly mad dog periodically turns into a well-trained pet.
  15. It's not the fault of "The Sopranos" charismatic, beefy star (Gandolfini) that he's an actor of such substance and quiet ardor as to make idle movie star ribbitting look frivolous.
  16. 50
    Plays like a drawn-out outline of a better movie; no one got around to fleshing out the details or providing some soul.
  17. Flails about desperately for a genre to call home.
  18. 50
    Gandolfini, who skillfully fleshes out what's written as a one-joke character, comes close to pilfering The Mexican from the stars. Under the circumstances, that's not a huge accomplishment.
  19. Thank God for James Gandolfini.
  20. Reviewed by: Mike Clark
    50
    Superstars usually avoid movies this spiritless, and it's tough to believe anyone could read this script and fail to realize the movie wouldn't end up going anywhere.
  21. Reviewed by: Jay Carr
    50
    Isolated offbeat moments aside, The Mexican mostly fires blanks.
  22. The Mexican is its own worst enemy, consistently undermining its best efforts. The result is an over-long series of quirks, a film that's far less than the sum of its often amusing and ingenious parts.
  23. Reviewed by: David Edelstein
    50
    A passably diverting entry in the Tarantino genre of splatter and yuks and soulfully bumbling hit men.
  24. If The Mexican proves anything, it's that eccentric features need a particularly delicate touch to be successful. With a film like this, how close you come doesn't matter: Off by a little is as debilitating as off by a lot.
  25. Can't lift the double curse of too little genuine action, as opposed to quixotic events, and too many fancy words.
  26. He's (Gandolfini) the true star of the film, and his stardom is achieved in the most honest of ways, through the sheer brute force of his talent.
  27. 30
    Undisciplined and overstuffed with enough surplus plot twists to make your neck ache, The Mexican affects the tousled look of a self-conscious indie.
  28. 30
    Intermittently appealing, fundamentally dysfunctional action-comedy.
  29. A dismaying dearth of romantic chemistry -- during their brief scenes together, the two (Pitt, Roberts) actually seem afraid to touch each other -- and we end up with a Frankenstein's monster of a movie: lots of interesting pieces cobbled together with all the stitches showing.
  30. 20
    The entire movie looks as if it were processed in the toilet of a Tijuana jail cell. Shot by Dariusz Wolski in colors that are bleached out, over bright and flat, The Mexican is the ugliest-looking major studio release in recent memory.
  31. 20
    Promises a road movie of blissful comic romance and delivers a series of dramatic dead ends.
  32. Reviewed by: David Ansen
    20
    A tired, confused romantic comedy/noir thriller with all the suspense of an infomercial. Buy the poster; skip the movie.
  33. Reviewed by: Richard Schickel
    20
    Half comedy, half action piece, the movie runs sputteringly on the not inconsiderable charm of its stars. But basically it is languid, indeterminate and uninvolving.
  34. Feels patently inauthentic.
  35. Reviewed by: Robert Horton
    10
    Has even less directorial initiative than it has romantic spark.
User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 23 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 11
  2. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. KevinR.
    9
    I really don't understand all the critics on this one. I'm usually not taken by this sort of film and have never been a Roberts fan, but this show is actually (amazingly) one of my favorite films ... I'm not sure why but it, for me is perfect blend of genres - I own it. Love it. Full Review »
  2. AndrewT.
    5
    The best scenes are between James Gandolfini and Julia Roberts: some of these are quite affecting. Gandolfini's character is interesting and his acting excellent. The rest of the film is an action/romantics farce which I found fun and entertaining until about the last 20 minutes, which I had to force myself to watch. Full Review »
  3. Joel
    5
    Even the all star cast couldnt really bring alot out of what is an average script at best. Roberts, Pitt and Gandolfini were all superb but at the end of the day the storyline got lost in itself and by the end I couldnt wait for it to finish. Full Review »