Harold the Nigerian businessman finds himself kidnapped by a Mexican drug cartel. Could things get any worse?
The answer is yes. Wicked pharmaceutical executives, drug mule tourists, and an eccentric mercenary all seem to be out to get Harold.
David Oyelowo stars as Harold Soyinka, a perfectly normal man from middle-management. His name happens to be the most common name with the fewest famous people associated with it. When he is sent on a routine business trip to Mexico by his despicable employers, played by Joel Edgerton and Charlize Theron, he is caught in the middle of an international drug trade.
Meanwhile, Sunny (Amanda Seyfried) and Miles (Harry Treadaway), a couple on vacation in Mexico, are out to smuggle pharmaceuticals from the same company Harold works for. The international intrigue escalates when the Mexican drug cartel finds out Harold is the only man with access to valuable pharmaceutical files. If only Harold knew he was being hunted.
One of the best performances from this star-studded cast comes from Sharlto Copley (The A-Team, District 9), who plays a former mercenary sent to rescue Harold. Joel Edgerton and Charlize Theron make a delightfully nasty pair of selfish, racist American pharmaceutical executives. And David Oyelowo is hilarious as the average guy thrown into unbelievable circumstances.
Somehow, despite its genre-bending plotline, Gringo delivers in both comedy and action. It manages to juggle several subplots without dropping a single one, all thanks to Joel’s own brother, director Nash Edgerton, in his first big project.
The film raises larger points beyond its comedy, like America’s relationship with Mexican drug cartels, the greed of corporations, and what it means to be successful. Harold may be average on the surface, but it’ll take a lot more to get out of this alive.
Gringo hits theaters March 9.
Photo courtesy of Red Carpet Crash
