Bandidas
Wanted - alive or dead.
Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz have never been sexier as they team up for this hilarious, action-packed western! Determined to avenge the deaths of their fathers, Sara Sandoval (Hayek) and Maria Alvarez (Cruz) vow to seize the ill-gotten gains of robber baron Tyler Jackson (Dwight Yoakam). So, with help from a retired bank robber (Sam Shepard) and a jittery criminologist (Steve Zahn), these two beauties become unlikely outlaws, blazing a trail of larceny and laughter across Mexico!
Member Reviews
almost, but not quite - tamarindball
Although I love both of these actresses and the cinematography was beautiful, there was some spark missing from this movie. I felt like it needed a few tweaks in order to achieve the Butch & Sundance feel it was going for: doing away with the lame "animosity" between the two women, for one, and less concentration on other characters.
It's a shame, because I enjoyed both the strong social message of the movie and all of the lively action sequences. It's too bad the director had to throw in the usual hackneyed tropes of catfights and cleavage, because it could've been so, so much better.A Hybrid Western with Girl Power. . . . - B00B00
Quite an enjoyable flic. This film is unique because we replace testosterone with girl power. What we get are two young attractive bank-robbing women trying to combat a ruthless enforcer who is terrorizing their town. These women are the female version of Zorro. It was entertaining and funny, fun for the entire family.Classical Cleavage - Stitch
Yep, no way could I resist Penelope Cruz in Mexico after visiting her there in All the Lovely Horses...and here with the gorgeous Salma Hayek as chaser. But it’s a diet not to be indulged too often. Hunker down, good buddies...this is a seven courser.
Bottom line, it is continuous low cut action and mostly good fun. A distaff Butch Cassidy and Sundance romp. Some scenes are quite clever ie the banjo episode. Sam Sheppard adds a little macho spice but his screen time is far too short. Then we have Steve Zahn as the twerp genius who my bride thought was cute. Ok, whatever. Dwight Yokum is so laconic as villain you expect him to hum a few bars now and then, but he does occasionally crack a grimace. His barely disguised snicker in the dirt in his final scene says it all.
The cinematography is definitely a plus with several innovative action scenes and some outstanding locale shots.
Certainly the ladies play well off each other which is a real achievement since the plot appears to have been drummed up as they went along. And their off-screen friendship probably helps them play it straight through some syrupy insertions for the accidental viewer who has been expecting a moral to the story. On the other hand it may have taken the edge off their earlier fight scene. But who cares...there is so much predictability throughout that it’s a minor quibble in comparison.
So why three stars? Because the bordello bit is a hoot to begin with (wrong room, wrong room) and then morphs into an episode that even the most desiccated male will respond to. Appropriate for a rainy afternoon with amorous overtones. But definitely a one shot effort—will not play well on re-run.
It's a farcical romp, folks. A bit of nudity and a couple of sexually suggestive scenes but nothing that should offend--unless you were expecting intelligent provocative. Not a mensa movie. Light and lively, a bit of a throwback to the olden oaters. With decolletage.
Member Reviews
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almost, but not quite - tamarindball
Although I love both of these actresses and the cinematography was beautiful, there was some spark missing from this movie. I felt like it needed a few tweaks in order to achieve the Butch & Sundance feel it was going for: doing away with the lame "animosity" ...A Hybrid Western with Girl Power. . . . - B00B00
Quite an enjoyable flic. This film is unique because we replace testosterone with girl power. What we get are two young attractive bank-robbing women trying to combat a ruthless enforcer who is terrorizing their town. These women are the female version of ...Classical Cleavage - Stitch
Yep, no way could I resist Penelope Cruz in Mexico after visiting her there in All the Lovely Horses...and here with the gorgeous Salma Hayek as chaser. But it’s a diet not to be indulged too often. Hunker down, good buddies...this is a seven courser.
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