LOVE WITH THE SAFETY OFF.

Small-time crook Jerry Welbach (Brad Pitt) is forced to hunt down a priceless pistol in Mexico; suddenly, his girlfriend (Julia Roberts) is kidnapped.

Two of Hollywood’s most attractive stars at the time are actually separated for most of the action, which oddly enough is a good idea, because there’s not much chemistry between them. Pitt’s Mexican adventure is fun but uneven; unfortunately, the kidnapping situation has an overly bizarre ring to it and the whole movie is too talky for its own good.

James Gandolfini is worth a look as the hit man-cum-therapist.

2001-U.S. 123 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by Gore Verbinski. Cast: Brad Pitt (Jerry Welbach), Julia Roberts (Samantha Barzel), James Gandolfini (Leroy), J.K. Simmons, Michael Cerveris, Bob Balaban. Cameo: Gene Hackman. 

Trivia: Kevin Reynolds and David Fincher were considered for directing duties; Ben Stiller and Meg Ryan for the leads.