Bandidas (2006)

Directed by: Joachim Roenning | 95 minutes | action, comedy, crime, western | Actors: Penélope Cruz, Salma Hayek, Steve Zahn, Joseph D. Reitman, Denis Arndt, Audra Blaser, Karl Braun, Ismael ‘East’ Carlo, Gary Cervantes, Humberto Elizondo, Daya Fernandez, Ernesto Gómez Cruz, Juan Manuel, Robledo Rios, Julian Sedgwick, Sam Shepard, Dwight Yoakam

Sara Sandoval (Salma Hayek) and Maria Alvarez (Penelope Cruz) are polar opposites. Sara is the well-behaved daughter of a wealthy Mexican banker and Maria is the daughter of a poor Mexican farmer. When Tyler Jackson (Dwight Yoakam) – a representative of an American bank – murders Sara’s father and takes Maria’s father’s land, the ladies suddenly have something in common: they want revenge. They decide to rob all the banks that Jackson has stolen in order to give the money back to the poor people. In an effort to stop them, Jackson hires Police Inspector Quentin Cooke (Steve Zahn). Quentin soon succumbs to the charms of the ‘bandidas’ and with his police knowledge helps them right the wrongs in Mexico.

Penelope Cruz and Salma Hayek as a movie couple, you have to have the guts for it. Are they going to get into each other’s hair or do their natural talents complement each other? The first especially, because despite an opposing career curve – Cruz went from art house to Hollywood and Hayek pretty much the other way around – these actresses today often compete for the same role, that of Latin beauty. Nothing more and nothing less.

Cruz usually plays more classic women than Hayek, but in ‘Bandidas’, a very light-hearted bandit film, the search for non-physical distinctions is also made more difficult. Hayek pouts as the daughter of a wealthy banker and gets hiccups when a stressful situation arises; Cruz is the Che Guevara of the two and can talk to her horse.

Mentioning these traits may sound somewhat absurd, but they are still running gags in ‘Bandidas’. Salma Hayek pointing a gun at someone in hiccups for an hour and a half? It’s possible, as long as it looks good. Can beautiful women rob banks anyway? Yes, as long as you train for it well under the guidance of an ex-soldier (a tiny part by Sam Shepard). Fifty pushups in that shallow stream over there, ladies, and get your boobs touching the water.

Fortunately, we are dealing with good actresses. Cruz in particular plays a convincing country chica with shooting skills and forms a sympathetic professional duo with fellow combatant Hayek; the location shots shot in the Mexican state of Durango are breathtaking, but that’s about it. There is really nothing happening in ‘Bandidas’ that causes a stir; in any case, nothing more than a movie with that title suggests. The trivial story about the robinhood behavior of both ladies – literally called ‘broad-legged women’ in this film – aims at capturing the real bandits, whose chief is played by a cringingly evil Dwight Yoakam, who comes into the picture more than he wanted afterwards. would have. In between, some banks are robbed and Yoakam’s men – who are the guards – are childishly sidelined. Uncle Agent (Steve Zahn) is fortunately on the right side, but only acts as a manikin for the love lessons of the fiery young ladies.

It’s so pre-cooked that you wonder when Cruz and Hayek are going to kiss, but nothing like this. And then you’re waiting for an hour and a half.