In turn of the century Mexico, two very feisty young ladies who are worlds apart come together for a common cause. They've each lost a father thanks to the machinations of a greedy, conniving, evil robber baron, Tyler Jackson, played with gusto by Dwight Yoakam. At first, spoiled rotten bankers' daughter Sara Sandoval (Salma Hayek) cares only for a personal vendetta, but farm hand Maria Alvarez (Penelope Cruz) opens her eyes to the bigger problem of the exploitation of the Mexican people by people like Jackson. A big city criminologist, Quentin (Steve Zahn), follows the trail of the ladies as they embark on a bank robbery spree.
"Bandidas" is good, amiable, fairly light entertainment, that bears the marks of co-writer and co-producer Luc Besson. Directed by the team of Joachim Ronning and Espen Sandberg, it's a gorgeous widescreen combination of Western, comedy, and action film. It might be too silly for the tastes of some people, but others are sure to find it likable, funny, and charming. Certainly it succeeds as a showcase for the appealing leading actresses, who are at their sexiest and liveliest. Their banter flies back and forth, and they even fight over the nerdy Quentin, who becomes a believer in their cause.
Zahn offers a good counterpoint as the straight man to their antics, and it's an amusing bit of irony that HE'S the one who gets naked in this story. Delivering solid supporting performances are Denis Arndt, Audra Blaser, Ismael 'East' Carlo, Gary Carlos Cervantes, Jose Maria Negri, and Humberto Elizondo. Sam Shepard gets a particularly delicious role as the retired bank robber who teaches Sara and Maria the finer points of that line of work.
It may not be all that memorable, but "Bandidas" IS a pleasant diversion for a little over an hour and a half.
Seven out of 10.
