Search - Puerto Vallarta Squeeze on DVD

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 8/18/2024...

Decent beginning but then went downhill.

Has not received adequate recognition.

Richard R. Ashbaugh | Maryland | 01/14/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a wonderful, not well known (at least to me) flick with a great plot and a lot of humor thrown in."

Better than I thought it would be!

Bookworm | EL Paso | 01/20/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I didn't expect much of this little movie. I just wanted to see it because it was one of the last films Jonathan Brandis would ever make. For such a small part, he is remarkable and regrettably there's not enough of him here. It's a surprisingly good film. Scott Glenn and Harvey Keitel are great as they always are. Craig Wasson was nice to see since I hadn't seen anything since his over the top performance in Body Double. The film is well written and well acted. Though it did have some shocking moments. Scott Glenn at his age is well preserved and I nearly fell onto the floor during the scene where he's wearing a string bikini. It was nice to see Jonathan Brandis as a wet behind the ears CIA hitman-in-training and a future replacement for the Scott Glenn's seemingly doomed Price. He looked very tired in this movie or was it just me? There's some shocking and notable scenes, this movie is not for the prudish at heart. Though there is a sex scene and visible nudity, the scene is tastefully done and conveys a sense of tender regard between the two characters of Luz and Price. There is notable violence and I came away from this movie with the sense that if you're ever stupid enough to go to Mexico, you should hire a bodyguard, preferrably one who can kill with his hands. All in all this was better than some of the swill that gets the studio treatment. So I highly recommend this if you're a fan of lush Mexican locales and actors who act for the pure joy of acting and not a paycheck. My summary: CIA hitman (Glenn) with emotional scars kills unintended target, gets trapped, needs help getting across the border and hires a down on his luck American writer and his beautiful but gutsy Mexican girlfriend with scars of her own. CIA handler on his trail with CIA hitman in training and heir apparent to Glenn's Price. Price, writer, girlfriend get into some nasty scrapes (terrifying scene involving local police), body count escalates, disagreements and suspicion about Price ensue, cameo by Vicki Carr, girlfriend and Price get close, (too close). CIA handler and trainee close in with one of the most tense and surprising endings I've seen in a while. Two thumbs way up."

Post-traumatic stress syndrome, in rural Mexico, by a Vietna

Pork Chop | Lisbon, Portugal | 03/15/2007

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Puerto Vallarta Squeeze, is a dark, conspiracy-laden movie, telling
a story that seems somewhat over-worked (considering the author felt
the need to have one of the protagonists profession be that of a
famed book writer).

It will also probably be of interest mostly to military veterans,
who can relate to the post-traumatic stress syndrome that
characterizes literally 100's of thousands of former personnel in
the well documented conflicts of Vietnam, and some of former covert
operatives of the CIA, as played by Scott Glenn, in this picture.

Apart from the interesting filmed aspects of small-towns across
Northern Mexico, this picture also emphasizes its rural aspects and
abandoned villages, that obviously, are worlds apart from the major
Mexican cities or even, those of the USA, across the border. The
movie's action isn't entirely isolated, as the tourism hot spots are
also partly filmed, so the audience is able to see that the story
takes place in this day and age.

As said, apart from the psychological aspects that some may
appreciate, (the role being that of a burnt out, aging Vietnam vet,
turned CIA operative), the film also intertwines occasionally some
human aspects as well, such as the poverty of a segment of the
Mexican population, and the peasant beauty of the actress, played
intelligently, and charismatically by Giovanna Zacarias.

Surely, some may question the realism or even, the necessity of once
more bringing in the sterotype of Mexican women as maids, who are
easy to buy favors from, and of Mexican men as police officers, law
enforcement, some of which are "clearly" corrupt.

Harvey Keitel is brought in, to add some spice from time to time, in
the movie, and rescue it from a made-for-TV only stigma, that
otherwise might discourage DVD rental customers, or buyers. Kietel
only mostestly appears in the movie, and isn't given a chance to do
much with his role, or play out anything remotely close to the
powerful impact some of his previous movies allowed him to do.

The audio, music is acceptable, if not a bit repetitive, and the
classic score too identical to what we've heard 100's of times
before. This is mitigated with the flamenco guitar that is also
interspersed in the soundtrack, to emphasize the Mexican-ness of
this movie.

Overall, not a bad experience, but not something that people will
want to see a second time."