Movie Review – GRINGO

The title of this movie did no justice to the movie because it was absolutely amazing and interesting; the blend with the Nollywood and Hollywood was beautiful. Most people wouldn’t want to go watch this movie, based on the title and it not being clear, but it was a very good movie with a lovely storyline. One that people could recon with, a hardworking man who worked for a friend and then he finds out he had being the fool in his marriage and at work. Harold Soyinka the lead actor was a good man, who did what was always right, according to the teachings of his father, he is Nigerian who was taken to the US when he was little, grew up and still had the upbringing of his Nigerian parents, he was taught to never cheat and defeat the boss, which he always did, but then the tables turned around negatively, when he became the victim of his boss. There was this story that was being used or passed across about the gorilla, banana, passing of the ball, Harold had no clue he was the ball being tossed, all along he thought he was in control, little did he know that his boss and loving wife were lying to him.

Movie director Nash Edgerton had a well thought out storyline and wanted to explain a few issues that were going on in Mexico, disclosing what transpired in the drug cartel and how bad kidnapping was. The writers Matthew Stone and Anthony Tambakis were quiet detailed thereby giving the movie a good twist. The blend of both worlds was really good, the addiction of the Nigerian accent, and “Yoruba words and prayers” in the movie made us really like it’s our movie. I enjoyed the chase back and forth, and his arranged kidnap on several occasion, which later turned out to be real.

“Gringo” as the title entailed meant “foreigner”, it was a word used for Americans or anyone who wasn’t Mexican, Harold Soyinka a Nigerian American, was called to work for his old time classmate Richard. Richard owned a pharmaceutical company, who wanted to expand their product line, and needed to set up in Mexico, so he called on Harold to help him set up there. Little did Harold know that, Richard and his senior partner Elaine had other ulterior motives. They actually wanted to set up a company that would make illegal drugs, so they needed someone to help them run and manage it our side the shores of America. Harold worked so hard to make sure they were successful and at the tail end, Richard and

Elaine wanted to kick Harold out. He got a hang of their little secret and decided to act fast. So he arranged his kidnap so he could ask for a ransom of $5m dollars, which they refused to pay, at a point they even wanted him dead, so that the insurance company could pay the company the life insurance policy originally set up for employees who died in the cause of work in a foreign land, Harold actually didn’t know of this policy. It was a very funny movie, but yet informative at the extent some companies could go to just have their way even at the detriment of their employees and to make profits.

The highlight of this movie was when Harold found out he had being played all along and that his dearly beloved wife who had now made him bankrupt actually was sleeping with his boss, how painful could it get, in all he felt it would be better to take his own life as he had nothing to live, the twist at the end was really unpredictable.

Cast: David Oyelowo, Amanda Seyfried, Yul Vazquez, Diego Catano, Rodrigo Corea, Thandie Newton, Bashir Salahunddin, Carlos Corona, Joel Edgerton, Sharlto Copley, Harry Treadaway, Theo Taplitz & Charlize Theron

Genre: Action, Adventure, Commedy & Drama

Director: Nash Edgerton

Ratings: R (for Violence, sexual content, language throughout)

Written by: Matthew stone, Anthony Tambakis

Runtime: 110 mins

Studio: Amazon Studios and STX Entertainment

To my verdict, I would say an 7/10, I did enjoy the movie and the suspense that came along,I actually couldn’t tell the end, because I didn’t see the twist coming. Although there were not a lot of casts and scenes, I felt it was okay and was idle for the movie. A good blend between Nollywood and Hollywood and the movie gave me a very good laugh.  A good recommendation for the comedy lovers, this will sure keep you entertained.

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Linda Ochugbua

@lindaochugbua