Jerry Welbach (Brad Pitt), a part-time thief trying to go straight, is given two ultimatums. His mob boss Bernie Nayman (Bob Balaban) wants him to travel to Mexico to get a priceless antique pistol called "The Mexican", and deliver it to a mysterious buyer. The other ultimatum comes from his feisty girlfriend Samantha Barzel (Julia Roberts), who wants him to end his association with the mob. As collateral to make sure he comes through with the goods, Samantha en route to Las Vegas is kidnapped by burly guard/assassin Leroy (James Gandolfini) who isn't quite what he seems. Samantha eventually discovers that Leroy is a homosexual after catching him staring at a man. Jerry figures that being alive, although in trouble with his girlfriend is the better alternative so he heads south of the border. Finding the pistol is easy but getting it home is a whole other matter. The pistol supposedly carries a curse--a curse Jerry believes, especially when Samantha is held hostage by gay hit man Leroy to ensure the safe return of the pistol. Jerry soon has his hands full with bandits, bloodshed, and a grizzly hound dog that vanishes and reappears with amusing regularity.
Jerry is kidnapped and winds up in the presence of local mobster Arnold Margolese (Gene Hackman). Margolese explains that he wants the pistol so he can return it to its rightful owner, the descendant of the gunsmith. Jerry agrees to return the pistol to the aging descendant, and is taken back to his hotel room. Bernie, however, is already there, demanding the pistol in exchange for Samantha. When it is discovered that she is in the trunk of Jerry's car, he explains she is the only one who knows its location. Bernie opens the trunk, revealing a very irate Samantha wielding the cursed pistol. After a brief standoff, Samantha fires the pistol, causing a small gold wedding ring to fall out. Bernie stands still for a moment, apparently unharmed, but then reveals a bullet hole in his neck that kills him. Jerry then takes the ring, proposes to Samantha, and the two begin their trip back to the United States.
This is an unusual mixture of romantic comedy, thriller, and road movie. There are many moments to lighten the fast-paced journey of the film--the multiple flashbacks to the story behind the pistols are quite entertaining, and the quirky characters chasing Jerry and Sam definitely add something to an eclectic mix of personalities. The plot takes a few strange twists and livens things up with a few sideline stories and characters and some great acting from Pitt. Alan Silvestri composed the original music, J. H. Wyman wrote the screenplay, and Gore Verbinski directed.
