Guilty pleasures for some can range from a hidden candy bar at work, listening to backstreet boys or actually using your snuggie. For me it usually involves cheap beer and a good B film. From old scifi movies to shootem up gore both hold a place in my heart. Usually I am an avid film and beer snob watching anything Herzog makes, or is hinted to be apart of and drinking limited release rare brews from the smallest of breweries. Sometimes it’s just good to zone out and have some fun.This is was definitely the case this past week when I watched the Action packed/Shoot em up film Machete and drink some frosty cold Tecate, out of a can. Directed by Robert Rodriquez and Ethan Maniquis, is an epic homage to B action movies from the 70’s and early 80’s. This film stars as its hero none other than sixty-six year old, blade slinging, tequila drinking Danny Trejo. He is known for his early films such as Desperado,Heat, From Dusk til Dawn and of course Spy Kids. Trejo has had an amazing career throughout the years and has been usually casted as some mysterious gun for hire.

The movie begins with with our hero federale going against the head of the cartel (fat Steven Seagal) who *SPOILER ALERT* beheads his wife and murders his only child, which gives us just enough back story of where he comes from and for the viewer to be be with him all the way.This continues on with Trejo being hired for a job only to be betrayed by his employers and vows revenge against all his enemies. This film has some of the most over the top fighting scenes that go from people being hacked to bits and heads literally rolling, to motorcycle, gatling gun mayhem. Rodriguez put every campy action cliche he could in this film, from our underdog hero, the overly evil villians and never ending bullets, all help make this movie exciting over the top fun. The casting alone on Machete was just spot on perfect Robert Dinero as the Corrupt Southern Politician who really is from New York, Lindsay Lohan as the rich party girl who eventually dawns a nun habit and becomes the peacemaker. Don Johnson also is in this starr studded film as the leader of a radical Pro-American militia, who plays on the “man with no eyes roll.

Now admist all the bloody massacres and “sexy” love scenes one does get a bit parched. The only problem I had was picking the right brew for this viewing. I  battled between Modelo Especial, Pacifico and even Corona. (really!) The only one that came out on top was the old school, never let you down, corn tasting, Tecate . This beer, brewed by Cerveceria Cuauhtemoc Moctezuma, S.A. de C.V. is a typical American Adjunct Lager. It pours with a classic light gold color,the right amount of carbonation and a surprisingly mild taste.Having had this beer many times it’s always great to go back and realize how large my palate for beer has grown, still this brew is one of the few I wouldn’t mind drinking  on a hot day.

So to recap If you come home from work tired, not wanting to think and just watch an explosive and fun , eye-vomit, mindless film, while drinking a cold beer then this pairing is for you. It truly was one of the best tributes to a genre I have seen in such a long time. Which is very reassuring to see come out of the gross “lets remake and ruin every good film” Hollywood machine. Hopefully you will enjoy the film aand brew pairing as much as I did and remember to always unwind and have some serious fun now and again.

Cheers,

Thomas Barris

The Wild Cicerone