Today’s quick review: The Matador. Starved for companionship, hitman Julian Noble (Pierce Brosnan) strikes up a drunken conversation with Danny Wright (Greg Kinnear), a mild-mannered businessman, at a hotel bar in Mexico City. Over the next few days, the two men bond over alcohol and bullfights. But their friendship is put to the test months later when, at the end of his rope, Julian comes to Danny for help with one last job.
The Matador is a crime comedy about a burnt-out hitman and the acquaintance who becomes his only friend. The movie centers on the mismatched pairing of Julian, whose skill at his job is beginning to be affected by his loneliness, bad habits, and self-doubt, and Danny, who has the ordinary life and loving marriage that Julian craves. The Matador gets some mileage out of its lead duo but lacks the sparkling characters or engaging plot to go farther.
The Matador’s main weakness is that it never moves beyond its initial premise. The movie takes its time setting up Julian and Danny as characters, letting them play off one another, and building to a plot twist that never arrives. The Matador flirts with the idea of dragging Danny into Julian’s world of violence but never commits to it. As such, the movie depends almost entirely on the two men’s conversations, which can only take it so far.
Still, The Matador works its way around to a couple of touching moments. Dysfunctional as it is, Julian and Danny’s friendship is a genuine one that brings out the best in both of them. The same goes to Danny’s marriage to Bean (Hope Davis), a plain but loving relationship. These two positive relationships, coupled with the movie’s light treatment of Julian’s line of work, give the movie an optimistic tone and its modest emotional payoff.
The Matador will hold some appeal for fans of the lighter side of the crime genre, with offbeat characters, low stakes, and no actual gore. Its leads are skilled enough to make the film enjoyable from moment to moment, and the characters have enough heart to accomplish some of what the film is trying to achieve. But its one-dimensional story keeps The Matador from reaching its full potential, leaving it a light watch without a strong hook.
For a crime comedy with a very similar premise, sharper humor, and a more elaborate plot, try The Whole Nine Yards. For a similar comedic pairing with richer characters and more overt comedy, try the original verison of The In-Laws. For a romantic crime comedy with an even more offbeat tone, try Mr. Right.
6.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for decent character work and comedy, but with a premise that could have supported more.