| | | Always Protect the Family.
Features: DVD, English, Spanish, French, Dolby, Dolby Digital (5.1)
From acclaimed producer John Singleton (Hustle & Flow, Four Brothers) comes an intense, action-packed thriller about a family's quest for honor and revenge. College student Wilson De Leon, Jr. (Rick Gonzalez, Coach Carter, TV's Reaper) never stood up for himself until the gangsters who killed his father came to settle a score. In a gripping, adrenaline-pumping showdown, Wilson and his mother (Wanda De Jesus, TV's CSI: Miami) decide to settle that score on their own terms in order to protect the people they love. Dania Ramirez (TV's Heroes, X-Men) and reggaeton star Tego Calderon co-star in this hard-hitting film loaded with gripping action and unbeatable suspense.
"Quite an entertaining genre piece boasting a terrifically sinewy lead performance from Wanda De Jesus." Michael Rechtshaffen, The Hollywood Reporter
"...works as a melodrama, and it benefits enormously from the performance of Wanda DeJesus." Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Editor's Note
ILLEGAL TENDER opens in the Bronx in 1985, with slick drug dealer Wilson DeLeon (Manny Perez) looking for one more big score before settling down with his pregnant wife, Millie (Jessica Pimentel). But things go awry, and the gang led by Javier Cordero (Gary Perez) goes after Millie as well. Twenty-two years later, Millie (now played by Wanda De Jesus) is living in a wealthy suburban neighborhood with her older son, 4.0 college student Wilson Jr. (Rick Gonzalez), and younger son, the endearingly precocious Randy (Antonio Ortiz). When she spots a member of Javier's gang, she's out on the run again--but Wilson refuses to go, instead staying home with his girlfriend, Ana (Dania Ramirez), not willing to believe anyone is in any real danger. Although he doesn't want to get involved, Wilson is soon caught up in a gunfight, finding himself in the middle of a two-decade-old score that seemingly can be settled only with bloodshed. Written and directed by Franc. Reyes (EMPIRE) and produced by John Singleton (BOYZ N THE HOOD), ILLEGAL TENDER is a gripping drama about family, revenge, and honor. The outstanding cast is headed by De Jesus in a career-defining performance, with fine support from Gonzalez and Ramirez and comic relief from Ortiz. The soundtrack features songs by Willie Colon, Don Omar, Manny Loco, Tafari, and reggaeton star Tego Calderon, who also appears in the film as Choco, Javier's right-hand man in Puerto Rico.
| Features | Audio: English, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound | | Deleted Scenes | | Dubbed: Spanish | | Featurette: The Making Of Illegal Tender - Experience An Intimate Look Inside The Production From The Perspective Of The Filmmakers & Cast | | Interactive Menus | | Scene Selection | | Subtitles: French, Spanish | | Watch The Music Video Inspired By The Film & See How It Was Created |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: Universal |
| Release Date: 5/12/2009 |
| Running Time: 108 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 2007 | | Catalog ID: 61102663 | | UPC: 00025195021159 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English, Spanish Dubbed | | Available Subtitles: English, French, Spanish | | Video: Color |
Aspect Ratio | | Anamorphic Widescreen 2.40:1 |
| Cast & Crew
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| | Professional Reviews | Variety 7 of 10
Mother knows best -- and shoots straight -- in "Illegal Tender," a Latin-flavored crime meller propelled by a throbbing soundtrack that fuses hip-hop, salsa and Reggaeton to muy bueno effect. The second feature written and directed by former dancer-choreographer Franc. Reyes ("Empire"), pic plays like a mash-up of pulp fiction and telenovela while focusing on vengeful drug kingpins, pistol-packing Latinas, cross-generational conflict and ferocious maternal instincts..."Illegal Tender" could have come off as a very dark comedy, a Tarantinoesque romp (note the abundance of shapely hitwomen) and/or a perversely edgy thriller with an Oedipal steak. Instead, helmer takes a surprisingly straightforward approach, avoiding ostentatious stylistic flourishes and never allowing anything, not even the gunplay, to get out hand...As a result, however, pic is too muted to have much lasting impact, and remains modestly diverting only on a scene-to-scene basis. There's no quotable dialogue, no standout action sequence, no flashy supporting performances -- in short, nothing to lift "Illegal Tender" from the level of competent but inconsequential B-movie...Still, there is that sizzling soundtrack. And De Jesus' authoritative performance, laced with a subtle hint of mature sensuality, might be enough for pic to have unexpectedly strong femme appeal. - Joe Leydon
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