By Courtney Thompson

“Miss Bala” is an action movie remake of the 2011 film of the same name released in Mexico. The film is based on the true story of former Miss Hispanic America, Laura Zuniga, who was charged with drug trafficking in 2008. 2019’s version stars Gina Rodriguez, best known for her role as Jane in the critically acclaimed television show “Jane the Virgin.” Although the show  is beloved by many, “Miss Bala” will probably not receive the same amount of adoring fans.

The best part about “Miss Bala” is Gina Rodriguez. She should not be blamed for the film’s shortcomings. Even an actress as charming as Rodriguez cannot save such a subpar script. She delivers a strong, believable performance as Gloria Fuentes, a young woman who travels from LA to Tijuana, Mexico, and finds herself working with the Las Estrellas gang after her friend, Suzu, gets kidnapped during a horrendous night at a nightclub. Lino, played by Ismael Cruz Córdova, is the leader of the gang. Gloria must work for him to save Suzu. There’s one scene where Gloria is overwhelmed by one of the very dangerous tasks that Lino has demanded her to complete. During this scene, she is in her car, distraught and afraid. This is one of the most memorable scenes of the movie, because of her gripping acting. It’s also suspenseful as you’re wondering what Gloria’s fate will be. Unfortunately, there are not enough of these gripping scenes in the movie to make it good.

The main problem with “Miss Bala” is its script. The film contains a magnitude of corny scenes that are almost cringe-worthy. Most of these scenes are between Gloria and Lino. Lino’s characterization is one of the most confusing and bizarre parts of the film. He’s a handsome, slick-talker who loves using violence to get what he wants. The movie sexualizes him in a way that is uncomfortable. From the zoom ins to his shirtless body to an oddly seductive scene that involves him teaching Gloria how to shoot a gun, it all feels a bit contrived. “Miss Bala” is about a young woman who deals with awful circumstances that force her to become empowered, strong and brave. Yet, the movie dedicates almost the same amount of time  portraying Lino as a sex symbol, as it does portraying him as an awful human being. Lino does not respect Gloria. He makes her strip on command and commit numerous felonies. Despite this, the movie portrays Lino as a heartthrob. This cheapens the film’s message of female empowerment. There’s not really any reason why Lino’s character should be sexualized to this extent. Catherine Hardwicke is the director of “Miss Bala.” She is best known for her work on films such as “Twilight,” “Lords of Dogtown” and “The Nativity Story.” Her directorial work in this film is lackluster, to say the least. There’s a scene where Gloria makes a split-second decision to save Lino during a shootout between the gang and police. What could be one the//typo; word missing// best scenes of the movie falls flat. This scene starts off intense, but fizzles out due to its cheesiness. The background music does not quite gel with the scene, and the slow motion sequence only makes it worse. Under someone like Hardwicke’s guidance, this scene should have played out in a much more compelling way.

“Bala” means bullet in Spanish. Just as shooters hit and miss their targets, the creators of “Miss Bala” hit and miss too — but mostly miss. It’s unfortunate – an actress of Rodriguez’s caliber should be starring in a movie where the script matches her acting prowess. “Miss Bala” is simply not that.