Non Negotiable review: Is the new Mexican Netflix movie worth watching? 

Netflix's latest addition, Non Negotiable, is a unique blend of two genres that are often hard to put together - comedy and thriller. This combination becomes a hit when put together with tact and precision, and that's what the Mexican comedy thriller is.

Directed by Juan Taratuto, the movie follows the intense journey of a hostage negotiator, Alan Bender, who faces the biggest challenge of his career when his wife and the Mexican President are abducted by his old friend.

Netflix released the movie on its streaming platform on Friday, July 26, 2024, and here's a look at see whether it's worth the watch:

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Non Negotiable: A crisis of marriage and an abduction

The Mexican movie follows the story of Alan, a hostage negotiator, who's on the brink of divorce. The situation gets more complex when his wife and the Mexican President are abducted; he has to put his mediations skills to use to rescue the President and save his wife, and hopefully also his marriage.

Non Negotiable, starring Mauricio Ochmann, Leonardo Ortizgris and Tato Alexander, follows the narrative tropes of hostage situation dramas. On one hand, we have a kidnapper who considers himself righteous and his crime justified, and on the other hand a corrupt politician who must pay for his deeds.

Despite its fair share of predictable moments, Non Negotiable manages to be surprisingly compelling, with no dull moments. Either the plot or the comedy comes to the fore when one department starts sagging.

Filled with moments of organic humor and anchored by the incredible chemistry between Mauricio Ochmann and Tato Alexander, the movie never falls short of drama.

Leonardo Ortizgris stands out as the righteous hero with a dark past and his share of tragedies. The protagonist comes off as a likeable character, with a set of faults that make him neither a hero nor a villian but very human.

While one may not agree with the path Alan chooses to follow, one understands his motivations. He's just a good man with a good sense of humor, but his priorities are all over the place.

Alan's turmoil serves as the crux of Non Negotiable and is the driving factor of the plot, which is established very early in the movie.

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Is the movie worth the watch?

The initial few minutes of Non Negotiable set a dark tone of suspense, which soon gives way to soft humor and comedy that lightens the mood.

Following a linear narrative, the Mexican movie slowly introduces us to the characters and the plot. It gradually moves into the hostage part of the narrative and simultaneously explores Alan’s crumbling marriage.

The two narratives are tactfully handled and merged together. Non Negotiable quickly finds its pace, juxtaposing intense moments with light-hearted comedy that changes the mood.

The movie is political, dramatic, moral and maybe even romantic, which keeps the audience engaged from the start to the end. While the ending was always predictable, it brings satisfaction.

Non Negotiable may not bag any Oscars next year, but it definitely wins over the audience with Alan Bender’s complex life, his dilemmas and the way he puts his skills as a negotiater into use.

Non Negotiable is one of the most entertaining and humorous titles that has entered the Netflix streaming platform this year, bringing to the audience a good dose of thrill and comedy.

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Catch the Mexican comedy now streaming on Netflix.