Cry Macho stars Clint Eastwood as an aged cowboy and former rodeo star who is asked by a friend to go to Mexico and retrieve his estranged son. Eastwood does this out of a sense of obligation but eventually out of friendship and even surrogate fatherhood. The kid (and his rooster) are willing to come… his mother (and her goons) maybe less willing to let him go.

This movie crept up on me… it seemed slow and kind of creaky (like Eastwood himself, actually) but its gentle earnestness and kindness won me over. This is a sedate, ambling, casual movie about life, friendship, fatherhood, family, and age. I was really surprised half-way through when I realized I was really kind of loving it. No cynicism or angst required.

There is a sub-theme of what it means to be a tough guy, a macho man, in the world and how it can leave you broken. It feels like Eastwood, of course, talking about his own life and career… though I think he’s already said this in a few of his later films (starting with Unforgiven). I’m good with him continuing to reflect on his life, especially when he can deliver such a casually well-directed film.

I was most impressed by the fact this is a modern Western but it’s not an action film. It has the possible trappings of a revenge or rescue thriller but it chooses to avoid those tropes. Hell, the movie has the basic structure of the last Rambo movie and I was certain Eastwood was going to have to pick up a gun and shoot his way out of Mexico. But, no, the movie seems to deliberately hinting at that genre but steadfastly refuses to entertain it.

Instead we just get this soft-spoken, quiet film about people. Whether it’s the good natured kid, Eastwood, their individual relationships with the rooster (of all things), a friendly older lady and her grandchildren, and the local police. It just feels so very human and thoughtful.

I was so gently impressed by this sweet but sturdy film. Eastwood is up and down on his movies but this is one of the casually stronger ones. I’m not sure its pacing is right for every moviegoer, but I was entranced. Very good flick.

Score: 84