The Matador (OK)
Synopsis: A professional assassin discovers that even he can feel burned-out and befriends a middle-class businessman in the process.
From the synopsis above, you’d think that I watched “The Whole 9 Yards.” Oh, if it were only so. There were so many things that I enjoyed about this movie and so many things that I found completely appalling. As with “9 Yards,” the premise is prime fodder for a dark-ish comedy about the troubles of a hit man who learns that he is past his peak. The thing is, pulling off a dark comedy requires a deft, subtle hand that understands the sensitivity of the audience and also knows how to write smart slapstick. “Matador” was a haphazard affair that, while sometimes funny (and I admit that it was sometimes funny), kept foisting unwieldy amounts of low-brow jokes on the audience like a salesman pushing the high-commission products. Still, the film had some good ideas; it really tried to develop some depth to its characters, and in many ways did a good job. But to truly accomplish this task, it required a backdrop a lot less absurd and disturbing. I appreciated the introspective interplay between the two main characters - it was genuinely moving to see their friendship develop - but I couldn’t appreciate it as fully as I wanted due to the constant desire to jump in the shower to wash the icky feeling off. And this was the main problem. I understand that foul language (and other forms of obscenity) can add levity to a situation when used deftly. When scene after scene of cursing and Pierce Brosnan boinking start pouring out of the screen and all over my good time, I get cranky. Keeping it light and, dare I say, innocent is what makes depressing subject matter work for laughs, and this movie was neither light nor innocent.
