MoPoshy Absolutely brilliant

Humbersi The first must-see film of the year.

Bumpy Chip It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Jenni Devyn Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

rlesser05 The suspense and anticipation Mel Gibbson's Character portrays in the movie is captivating. Excellent movie

CANpatbuck3664 Mel Gibson has been slowly working his way back into everyone's good graces. Hacksaw Ridge was a big hit in theatres this year and I think while he might not have as big of a fan base, there's no denying that the guy is excellent at his craft. This was one of his earlier comeback films and I dismissed it because it either didn't get a theatrical release or it was extremely limited. I'm not going to lie, the scandals around Gibson may have played a part too. I just turned this on via Netflix on a lazy Sunday morning and was pretty impressed by it, it was completely different from what I expected. The movie flew by and by the time it was over, I would have happily spent another half hour with Driver and this cast of characters.*Minor Spoilers Ahead* Things aren't going well for Driver (Mel Gibson). He's driving a car with a bag of money in the back with his fellow robber bleeding all over it. Making things worse is the fact that the police and the border patrol are on his tail as he's trying to escape to Mexico. He comes to the realization he can't get away while he's driving alongside the wall at the border and he wrecks the car on the Mexico side of the wall. The U.S. border patrol agents expect the Mexican police to hand Driver over but after $2 million is discovered in the back seat, they decide to process him. Thus begins Driver's integration into the Mexican prison system which has it's own unique flavour compared to the American system which he's already been through a couple of times.If you're a fan of this genre, when it comes to either comedies or dramas centred around the penal system, it's usually American or British. Driver is jailed in a Mexican prison and while you wouldn't think that would be hugely different, it actually is. Driver learning the ins and outs of this prison was different and I found it wholly entertaining. Driver describes the prison as "the world's shittiest mall" and it was really cool how differently it operated. The guards were much more hands off and it operated as more of a contained singular universe. It helped make Get the Gringo a different type of movie, it was more of a noirish comedy/drama and I really enjoyed the direction they took with it.The next great thing about this movie is the character of Driver. Driver is my kind of protagonist, he's not a good guy, he's got a sharp mind, enough grit to deal with the seedier side of El Pueblito (the name of the prison) and enough of a moral code to avoid being a complete scumbag. I've heard this is an unofficial sequel to Payback (which I haven't seen) but the character seemed to fit Gibson's strengths as an actor easily.It's not necessarily easy to watch Mel Gibson in movies again but if you can separate his personal life from his work, Get the Gringo shows why he was one of the biggest stars of his day. He's great here and I like the fact he doesn't mind being the bad guy. Kevin Hernandez held up his end of the movie as Kid, that's pretty rare for a kid actor. Gibson and Hernandez have a good comedic rapport together. I also really liked Dolores Heredia as Kid's mom, she wasn't the typical damsel or love interest for Driver. She had toughness despite having the requisite love for her son. The rest of the cast also fit the bill nicely, the movie is centred around Mel but supporting characters do their jobs.Add in the fact that the movie is pretty funny due to some witty dialogue and Get the Gringo makes for a pretty fun ride. I would actually put it around an 8.5/10. I don't agree with Gibson's opinions or his activities in his personal life but he hammered out a pretty solid movie here. It's very Guy Ritchie like and that's a good thing. I can't give it a 9 because it doesn't hit that truly awesome level for me but I would recommend this highly.

shaws35 All the reviews I read about this movie were amazing. People rant and rave about it, but I don't get it. The storyline is nothing new it was just the typical bland action film to me. The premise where an American gets thrown into a foreign jail has been done before, and done better. Maybe I'm missing the point... Was it supposed to be a comedy? I was bored honestly...I thought Mel Gibson's character was cheesy and the fight scene where he was throwing bombs made me laugh. It was totally predictable and unrealistic.. Usually I come on here and trust the reviews but I have to say I totally disagree on this one, I turned it off half way through.

Guy GET THE GRINGO (aka WHAT I DID ON MY SUMMER VACATION) is classic Mel Gibson. He's a battered old bank robber - just like in PAYBACK - who stumbles across the border into Mexico with a couple of million and a dead partner. The Mex cops nick his cash, to spend on hookers and German cars, whilst throwing him into the slammer. Based on a real life experiment (which inevitably ended badly), the prison is sorta-open; with the criminals carrying guns, dealing drugs and even living with their families inside. The only rule is that escape means death. Mel gives the place plenty of sarcastic voice-over, all whilst casing the joint, making friends with a cigarette-crazy kid and even romancing the boy's mother. Soon he's climbing the criminal ladder, even as the people whose money he stole come looking for him. Cue some satisfyingly Peckinpah-esque blood'n'slo-mo shootouts, as well as a slightly random digression from the prison. It's gory, foul-mouthed and cynical...but somehow still has its heart in the right place as Mel finds redemption (he is Catholic after all) and settles scores. A taut 90 minutes long, this old-school thriller ought to have re- established his career after his drunken ZOG-ranting but alas...