Okay, José: A musical bandit hunt that definitely happened

Is this thing worth a watch?

If you have an itch for weird, low-budget musical comedies from the past, sure. If you hate characters who burst into song when they should probably be running for their lives, you might want to skip this one entirely. It’s a very specific kind of silly that doesn't really exist anymore. 🌵

The premise is simple enough: a salesman hits the road looking for a bandit. It’s the kind of setup that feels like it belongs in something much grittier, like Tumbling Tumbleweeds, but instead, it takes a hard left turn into musical territory. It is honestly bizarre.

The pacing is all over the map. One minute someone is shouting about a bounty, the next minute there is a choreographed dance number that feels like it was staged in an empty parking lot. It’s jarring. I kind of loved it, even though it made absolutely zero sense.

The little things

• The singing voices aren't always... let's say, perfect.
• The lighting in the exterior shots makes everyone look like they are standing in a permanent fog.
• I’m pretty sure one of the extras in the back is just reading a newspaper during a high-stakes standoff.

The dialogue has this rhythm that feels like a telegram being read by someone who just woke up. It lacks the punch of a classic noir like Dressed to Kill, but it has a weird charm. It’s almost like the movie is daring you to take it seriously, and then it trips over its own feet.

There is a scene where our salesman tries to act tough, and his hat physically falls off his head. They kept it in! That’s the kind of movie this is. It’s not trying to win an award. It’s just trying to get to the next song.

Is it better than Wacus? Honestly, they aren't even playing the same sport. But if you have 80 minutes to kill and you want something that doesn't feel like it was focus-grouped to death, Okay, José is a strange little time capsule. It’s messy, it’s loud, and it definitely didn't have a big budget for choreography. 🎶

I left the movie feeling like I’d just had a weird dream about a bandit who really wanted to be a lounge singer. Don't go in expecting a masterpiece. Just go in expecting a headache and a few accidental laughs. 🤠