NON NEGOTIABLE
(director: Juan Taratuto; screenwriter: Julieta Steinberg, Daniel Cuparo, Marcelo Birmajer, based on an idea by Alejandro De Grazia & Joe Rendon; cinematographer:Alejandro Martinez; editor: Pablo Barbieri Carrera; music: Pablo Borghi; cast: Mauricio Ochmann (Alan Binder), Fernanda Borches (Pamela Lobaton), Claudette Maille (Carrasco), Habda Malacon (Beatriz), Tato Alexander (Victoria), Leonardo Ortizgris (Vincente), Geraldine Zinat (Socorro Perez), Enoc Leaño (President Araiza), Itza Sodi (Menendez), Gonzalo Vega Jr. (Nicolas); Runtime: 86; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Cristian Sessa, Felicitas Arce, Alejandra Cardenas, Alejandro De Grazia; Netflix; 2024-Mexico-in Spanish with English subtitles)
“So-so Mexican comedy-thriller.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
Argentinian filmmaker Juan Taratuto (“I Married a Dumbass”/”The Reconstruction”) directs this so-so Mexican comedy-thriller that’s written by Julieta Steinberg, Daniel Cuparo, and Marcelo Birmajer. It’s based on an idea by Alejandro De Grazia & Joe Rendon.
It follows the best hostage negotiator for Mexico, Alan Binder (Mauricio Ochmann), who goes to work when the corrupt, phony populist President Araiza (Enoc Leaño) and his mistress the congresswoman (Fernanda Borches) from the opposition party are kidnapped in an hotel and are tied up in a bomb vest because Araiza failed to keep his campaign promises. The madman kidnapper is Vincente (Leonardo Ortizgris). The kidnapper informs the authorities he will negotiate only with Binder.
Meanwhile Binder and his therapist wife Victoria (Tato Alexander) are undergoing therapy sessions because their marriage is on the rocks because they squabble a lot over him being a workaholic. She’s also had a fling with her personal trainer (Gonzalo Vega Jr.).
The kidnapper will also kidnap Victoria, who falls for a trap he sets.
With the sputtering comedy being off and on again, and with no tension in the hostage situation in the second-half, the film stagnates as it reaches a forgettable conclusion after all its absurd contrivances.
REVIEWED ON 8/30/2024 GRADE: C
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