Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
When a ruthless robber baron takes away everything they cherish, a rough-and-tumble, idealistic peasant and a sophisticated heiress embark on a quest for justice, vengeance…and a few good heists.
Bandidas is a lightweight genre mashup—western, comedy, heist—buoyed by the charismatic pairing of Salma Hayek and Penélope Cruz, whose chemistry elevates what is otherwise a formulaic revenge-and-robbery plot. The story follows predictable beats with thin characterization and a by-the-numbers resolution. Visually it's competent but unremarkable for the period. The novelty comes primarily from its female-led duo in a classic western setting, a refreshing if not fully exploited premise. The ending wraps things up neatly but without surprise or emotional weight.