Clowns & Luchadores – Gibson Pulls out all the Stops for Get the Gringo

Written by Nigel Smut // May 2, 2012 // Cinematical // 1 Comment

After a One-Night-Only Theatrical Run, Mel Gibson’s Latest Just Hit a DirecTV Near You

In his latest action flick Get the Gringo, Mel Gibson plays Driver, an American outlaw on the run from the law who finds himself thrown into a Mexican prison, where he must rely on the aid of a beautiful señorita and her ten-year-old son to show him the ropes. Insanity ensues.

Mel’s character begs comparison to Ryan Gosling’s character in last year’s Drive. Not only do they bear the same name, but both characters find themselves giving aid to a distressed single mother and son. But unlike the soft-spoken, loveable archetypal hero played by Gosling, Mel’s Driver is the scum of the earth, the definition of an antihero.

Complete with clown mask-wearing crooks and Mexican luchadores, “At the end of the day, it just doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s a popcorn eater,” says Mel. Get the Gringo was helmed by first-time director Adrian Grunberg, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Mel. The film had a limited, one-night-only theatrical run, and is now available on DirecTV.