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How I Spent My Summer Vacation (15)

How I Spent My Summer Vacation (15)

Action, Drama

A career criminal (Gibson) nabbed by Mexican authorities is placed in a tough prison where he learns to survive with the help of a 9-year-old boy.


The critical consensus

It’s one of those guilty pleasure flicks often assigned to Jason Statham, although for all his likeability, the Stat wouldn’t manage the kind of heavy lifting required to elevate Vacation. Gibson is quirkier; lighter on his feet and more compelling.

***(*)(*)Siobhan Synnot, The Scotsman, 07/05/2012

A Mex-set spaghetti Western featuring toilet humour, organ transplants and the closest Mel Gibson’s come to playing Martin Riggs since the last Lethal Weapon.

***(*)(*)Dan Jolin, Empire Online, 07/05/2012

The jail setting is eye-opening, Gibson is on good form and a tight narrative grips until events become too farcical towards the end.

***(*)(*)Henry Fitzherbert, Daily Express, 09/05/2012

How I Spent My Summer Vacation is a good step along the road to on-screen rehabilitation. It's a wild ride but worth the trip.

***(*)(*)Rob Carnevale, The Herald, 10/05/2012

Melding Mel, Mexico and mariachi, Grunberg’s debut is a watchable action-comedy, if a little throwaway. Good Friday-night fun.

***(*)(*)James Mottram, Total Film, 04/05/2012

The result is an enjoyable enough ride – one that even the most rampant Gibson-hater would find difficult to dislike.

***(*)(*)Vincent Renwick, The List, 10/05/2012

A superior genre effort, even if you its chances of setting the box office on fire are less than zero.

***(*)(*)David Jenkins, Little White Lies, 10/05/2012

If he hadn't poisoned his reputation so utterly, this film might have put him back on top. But that is the prison Gibson has made for himself.

***(*)(*)Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian, 10/05/2012

With nods to Bill Murray and Clint Eastwood the mood is less baleful than it sounds, but the plot makes so little sense and Gibson's veneer of charm feels so brittle that your only concern is how soon this particular vacation will be over.

**(*)(*)(*)Anthony Quinn, The Independent, 11/05/2012

Aside from Gibson’s droll voiceover, nothing here is terribly memorable, resembling one of those movies that usually star Steven Seagal or Jean-Claude Van Damme.

***(*)(*)David Edwards, Daily Record, 11/05/2012

A forgettable action romp.

**(*)(*)(*)Robbie Collin, The Telegraph, 11/05/2012

Mel Gibson re-invents himself.

***(*)(*)Chris Tookey, Daily Mail, 11/05/2012

Summer Vacation feels less like a vehicle for a billionaire superstar than a tough, pugnacious little indie flick that's punching above its weight.

Nicholas Barber, The Independent, 13/05/2012

The near incomprehensible plot involving his dealing with crooked cops and businessman on both sides of the Rio Grande is of little interest except as an excuse for fights, chases and the anti-hero's redemption.

Philip French, The Observer, 13/05/2012

Where and when?

General release. Check local listings for show times.

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