--- title: "The Mexican: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-mexican/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-mexican" critics_score: 52 critics_reviews: 12 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Mexican (2001): what the critics said Critics' score 52 from 12 reviews: 4 positive, 3 mixed, 5 negative. The reviews split almost down the middle, and the one thing nearly everyone agrees on is James Gandolfini. Whatever critics think of the film around him, his weepy, vulnerable hit man is repeatedly named the best thing in it, and several say the picture only comes alive once he arrives and starts talking to Roberts. Those who like it call it a shaggy-dog story: slight, whimsical, with tangy dialogue and a split structure that keeps things moving. The reservations gather around the two stars. Many critics find Pitt and Roberts do not mesh, and several describe the film as veering between goofy violence and solemnity without settling on a tone. The spread is wide, from cheerful curio to outright dud. The Guardian is the odd one out in finding even the Gandolfini subplot mishandled, while Collider, writing long after release, argues the film is a subversive arthouse piece that deserves a cult reappraisal. ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. The critic views the film as an eclectic, anything-goes shaggy-dog story with charm in its split structure and quirky elements. Gandolfini is highlighted as the best asset for his human and vulnerable portrayal of the hit man. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-mexican-7433295.html) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 2 March 2001. The critic praises the film's focus on the quirky relationship between Samantha and the hit man Leroy rather than the Pitt-Roberts pairing, finding it special and witty. He singles out the psychobabble dialogues and Gandolfini's character for bringing depth and surprises. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-mexican-2001) ## Variety — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 27 February 2001. The review describes the film as a slight but enjoyable whimsical shaggy-dog story with more star power than substance, ricocheting between goofy violence and endearing moments. It singles out Gandolfini's touching and genuine supporting turn as the most authentic element. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2001/film/reviews/the-mexican-1200466553/) ## Time Out — TCh Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 10 September 2012. This hokey-jokey comic thriller doesn't add up to much but remains an engaging curio. The parallel storylines buzz with smart zigzags and tangy dialogue, though extraneous flashbacks mire the plot somewhat. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-mexican) ## The AV Club — Nathan Rabin Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 2 March 2001. The film is uneven and often slack when focused on Pitt's character, but improves significantly with the arrival of Gandolfini, whose rapport with Roberts provides the film's strongest and most emotionally resonant moments. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-mexican-1798192607) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 2 March 2001. The review finds the film only half as funny as it should be but notes it avoids being too churlish given the surrounding comic environment. It highlights James Gandolfini's portrayal of the weepy hit man Leroy as the casting coup. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/02/movies/film-review-sounds-like-tony-soprano-but-just-a-tad-weepier.html) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 2 March 2001. The review notes the film's misdirection and desire to be hip and offbeat but concludes it cannot pull it off despite the stars' efforts. It praises the best performance coming from a supporting player rather than the leads. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-mar-02-ca-32062-story.html) ## Empire — Colin Kennedy Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The critic finds the film a patchy genre piece that fails to live up to its ambitions as a star vehicle. Gandolfini is singled out for praise as the standout performer who brings natural drama to his scenes. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/mexican-review/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 27 April 2001. The critic finds the film an implausible comedy-thriller that fails due to poor chemistry between Pitt and Roberts and weak performances. He singles out the mishandled subplot involving Gandolfini's character as particularly disappointing. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2001/apr/27/culture.peterbradshaw) ## The New Yorker Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 5 March 2001. The critic calls the romantic comedy a dud with Pitt and Roberts not meshing, criticizing the film's hapless veering between facetiousness and solemnity. Pitt's jittery performance is singled out as uncentered and indulgent to watch. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2001/03/12/a-gun-in-the-sun) ## Collider — Liam Gaughan Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 23 March 2026. The critic argues that despite its initial negative reviews, The Mexican is an unusual, subversive arthouse film rather than a standard thriller, deserving a cult reappraisal for its quirky humor, profound moments, and western influences. [Read the review](https://collider.com/gore-verbinski-the-mexican-brad-pitt-julia-roberts/) ## Eye for Film — Angus Wolfe Murray Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 27 April 2001. The critic finds the central couple's chemistry unconvincing and the film tonally uneven, with Pitt and Roberts failing to generate sparks while Gandolfini steals scenes. Verbinski treats the caper as a light romp but lacks the skill of Jonathan Demme in the genre. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-mexican-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-mexican.md