Rx (2005)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

Ariel Vromen

Writers:

Morgan Land (writer)
Ariel Vromen (writer)

Genre:

Thriller | Crime | Romance

Tagline:

Crossing the border was easy. Getting home was deadly...

Plot:

What is meant to be a weekend party across the border soon becomes a heartbreaking journey that tests the boundaries of companionship, romantic love and personal ethics.

Plot Keywords:

Police | Hotel Room | Death | Drug Trafficking | Border Crossing

Cast

Eric Balfour	...	Andrew
Colin Hanks	...	Jonny
Lauren German	...	Melissa
Danny Pino	...	Leo
Lulu Molina	...	Carlos' Mother
Alan Tudyk	...	Pepe
Ori Pfeffer	...	Raul
Adrian DeLira	...	Roadblock Federal
Jacob Duran	...	Indigent Man
Kei Kei Cadena	...	Young Mexican Woman (as Kei-Kei Cadena)
Arturo Portillo	...	Mexican Soldier at Cantina
Hector Radela	...	Mexican Soldier at Cantina
Alexandra Magallanes	...	Little Girl at Border
Michael Baldonado	...	Mexican Border Officer
Rudy Perez	...	Mexican Border Officer

Also Known As:

Simple Lies (International: English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for drug content, language, some violence and nudity.

Runtime:

USA:89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:MA | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

Company:

Inscription Films

Trivia:

The three friends drive a 1964 Chevrolet Corvair. It has been modified, in that "eye level" brake lights have been installed on the rear deck. These came into use in the USA in 1986.

Movie Connections:

References Gone with the Wind (1939)

a.k.a. "Simple Lies"

I'm not sure what "Rx" stands for, but in New Zealand, the film is released as "Simple Lies" which is an appropriate title, as lies are plentiful in this slick thriller in which three early-20 year-olds venture to Mexico with various intentions, mainly which involve getting drugs to take back to the States and sell for a profit.

Eric Balfour stars as Andrew, who has come into financial issues, and plans to buy drugs in Mexico to take back to the States and sell, which is unknown to his girlfriend, Melissa, played by Lauren German, who goes to Mexico with him, along with their friend Jonny (Colin Hanks) who knows the two drug dealers they are going to meet, while Melissa thinks they are going to Mexico just for a big party.

Without giving too much away, something goes horribly wrong on the way back to the States, so before they reach the border, they turn back into Mexico, where they return to the drug dealers, Pepe (Alan Tudyk) and Raul (Ori Pfeffer), which puts strain on the relationship between Andrew and Melissa. Our protagonists are forced to fight for their lives, resulting in a dramatic and tragic ending.

I say dramatic and tragic, because even though what Andrew does is morally wrong, he is still a very good person, as he does what he does for what he thinks are the right reasons. Balfour does a great job of conveying Andrew's plight, German and Hanks are both good in their roles, but Balfour is without a doubt the star of the film. The characters of the drug dealers Pepe and Raul are so incredibly annoying that I was practically cheering when they got their cometh-upeth. Overall, a very decent thriller which showcases Balfour's talents well.