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Contrary to popular belief, The Mexican is primarily concerned with the onscreen relationship between Julia Roberts and James Gandolfini. The Pitt/Roberts relationship is not the sole focus here, as the two spend the majority of the film apart.

Leroy (Gandolfini -- The Sopranos, 8mm) kidnaps Samantha (Roberts) to bribe Jerry (Pitt) into giving him the antique gun that he's supposed to have retrieved. This gun -- "The Mexican" -- has several myths, and Jerry's assignment is to bring it back to mob boss Arnold Margolese (Gene Hackman) in order to pay off his debt to him. Samantha (Roberts), however, is not at all impressed by Jerry's priorities, considering that he promised to take her to Vegas; as a result, she spends most of the film ranting to her kidnapper about her relationship problems.

This is where the film excels. Leroy is a seemingly-tough, closet homosexual, who soon finds himself in the role of a relationship counsellor. He and Samantha offer one another personal confessions and advice: He admits that he is sometimes afraid to "come out" in the public, while she feels that her boyfriend, Jerry, is selfish and takes her for granted. It's quite interesting watching these characters sympathising with one another's stories and finding some kind of mutual ground ("If two people love each other, but they just can't seem to get it together, when do you get to that point of enough is enough?" "Never.")

Although the film is likable in this aspect, though, it becomes less-likable when the dopiness of Pitt's character takes centre stage. Pitt does amuse, occasionally, but it's the strict, safe limits of light-hearted comedy in The Mexican that really make the film watchable.

Gandolfini, undoubtedly, is the star of the show here, which may surprise fans of Pitt and Roberts. The Mexican does have some amusing moments, but there weren't enough to convince me that I'll want to watch the film again in the near future; on top of that, it's about twenty mins overlong. Weaknesses considered, this is still a film I'd recommend to the young couples that enjoy snugly nights in by the open fire, wanting to portray their warm and fuzzy feelings of love to one another in words.

(EDIT: On the evidence of this review, it would seem that I really need a girlfriend.)

(C) Andy Carrington, 2009.