Comedy and thrillers are two genres that very rarely go well together, and some great examples from the last decade are The Menu (2022), A Simple Favor (2018), and of course, Parasite (2019).
When paired together, comedy-thrillers can be some of the most intense yet fun watches, and Netflix‘s latest Mexican movie, Non Negotiable might just be one to watch out for.
Directed by Juan Taratuto, Non Negotiable follows the journey of a hostage negotiator, Alan Bender, who faces one of the biggest challenges of his life and career so far. In this review, we’ll dive a little deeper into what worked versus what didn’t for this movie, which will help you decide whether you want to stream it or skip it!
Alan Bender Finds Himself in a Convoluted Situation
The initial few minutes of Non Negotiable set a dark tone of suspense and what one might encounter later in the movie, and soon after that, in contrast, we are brought to light with a couple and their daughter chatting away during a car drive until he’s called to work.
These two scenes perfectly reflect the genres that will be explored in the movie, while also introducing the audience to some of the main characters who will often be present on screen.
Right off the bat, Alan Bender, the protagonist is both likable and dislikable at the same time. On one hand, his job is the kind that needs him there stat, but of course, so does his wife.
He’s a good man with his priorities all over the place and a good sense of humor. This turmoil that Alan goes through serves as the crux of Non Negotiable, and having it established early on works in favor of the movie.
Now this is where preference comes into play. The Mexican movie slowly moves into the hostage part of the narrative, and for a while, it’s a mix between that and Alan’s crippling marriage, and it’s almost as if one has to pick which is keeping them more hooked because somehow they don’t work in sync, not to begin with at least.
However, the two narratives quickly merge together as Non Negotiable finally finds its pace, it’s steady, filled with humorous gags, and palpable tension. Whether you’re rooting for Alan’s marriage or his job, it all intertwines together, making it a seamlessly breezy watch!
Ultimately, Non Negotiable is all things political, dramatic, and only very slightly romantic, but it keeps you engaged from start to finish. Undoubtedly, with movies like these, the ending is almost always predictable, but despite that, this movie does a great job of never being boring, which is extremely important.
Of course, we can’t compare it to some of the comedy-thrillers we mentioned earlier, nevertheless, we would recommend Non Negotiable, especially if you’re aiming for a quick watch where you don’t have to think too much as the narrative unfolds without too many complications.
Conclusion
Admittedly, Non Negotiable doesn’t appear to be on the pathway for accolades in the coming year, but Alan Bender’s complex life is more than entertaining to deserve a stream, at the very least.
Do let us know in the comments what you thought about Netflix’s latest addition to its impressive July roster.