Alright, here’s the lowdown on Pierce Brosnan’s latest film, “The Matador.”

Brosnan plays Julian Noble, a hit man who has lost his touch. Danny (Greg Kinnear) is a salesman from Denver who has a lot to be worried about: his finances are on shaky ground, he was fired from his last job and, if he doesn’t land his next business deal, his marriage may be over.

Julian meets Danny in a hotel bar in Mexico City while on a job. Danny feels emasculated and deflated. Julian is a drunk with no home, no friends or family and an impending breakdown on its way. After a few margaritas — which “taste better here,” according to Julian — the two men embark on a very unique bonding experience.

Julian and Danny couldn’t be more different from one another. Danny is an idealist who married his high school sweetheart. Julian is a cold-blooded hit man who spends his time between jobs frequenting local brothels or wasting away in the nearest bar. With a little help from one another, they both may be able to turn their lives around.

After forming their friendship south of the border, Julian and Danny part ways. When Julian shows up at Danny’s Denver abode six months later, Danny’s wife, Bean (Hope Davis), welcomes Julian in with curiosity about the hit man her husband has told her about. For the first time Julian has discovered friendship and a temporary shelter from the only lifestyle he has known.

Brosnan hits the mark with his raucous antics and boozy neurosis. His shock-value comedy is a bit raunchy but hilarious nonetheless. Davis balances Brosnan’s in-your-face comedy with a subtler kind of humor that speaks volumes in its quietness. She plays the role of a wife, completely loyal to her husband, who recognizes Julian’s unique position in life as a “facilitator of fatalities.”

Kinnear plays his part well but seems more like a character actor in a role he has played before. This unique, if far-fetched, plot finds its way to the silver screen courtesy of writer-director Richard Shepard. Rated R for strong sexual content and language, this isn’t a movie for the whole family. Whether you see it on the big screen or in your home theater, “The Matador” is good for a laugh.

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