Mandrill (2009)

  Holy crap, I can't believe I almost forgot to write this post!  This movie has been sitting in my Saved queue for damn near two years now.  I have no idea when it will get a DVD/Blu-ray release.  It is available on streaming and I suggest you take that opportunity because this film is hilarious.

After seeing his parents murdered as a child, Antonio Espinoza grows up to be the hitman Mandrill (Marko Zaror), a suave, smooth-talking ladies' man with an eye for danger, who has pretty much based his entire persona on Chilean film icon John Colt, a thinly-veiled James Bond.  After kicking ass for years, Mandrill finally gets the break he needs to find the man who killed his parents.  The trail leads to a casino (naturally) in Peru and to the feet of Dominique del Solar (Celine Reymond), a dangerously beautiful brunette.  Faced with the daughter of his mortal enemy, Mandrill does what he must:  fall instantly head over heels in love with her.  From there, things get crazy.

I like films that are play up their cheesier elements consciously.  It's easier said than done, because too much and you're campy, too little and you're just ripping off your source.  This one spliced in 70's style "clips" from old John Colt movies, complete with horrible dubbed voices and the borderline-porn soundtrack.  It's hysterical. 

I love a number of films involving hitmen as main characters but I can honestly say I've never sat down and wondered what they were like as children or teenagers.  Who were their role models?  Who did they admire?  James Bond?  Sure.  Why the fuck not James Bond?  He's awesome. 

You know who else is awesome?  Marko Zaror.  Apparently, he's going to be in Machete Kills next year.  That should be outstanding.