Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

Illegal Tender was OK. Simple story about a young woman who loses her drug dealing husband. Franc. Reyes is one of my favorite gangster movie people out there doing it. This story tried way to hard to throw off people on what was happening. Wanda De Jesus was amazing. She was best part of this movie. Her role as a killer mom was deep. She commanded respect. Manny Perez has a small part in Illegal Tender. Like Wanda De Jesus he was good. Enuff violence to keep action fans hooked.Would have been a better movie with more Manny Perez in it. The main character was not worth a penny. Never could get in to what he had going on. The mom was who shot every body when it was needed.

I liked the movie, I think it was well written, well performed and overall well done...I liked it, but there are issues to be dealt with.Maybe I have the issues, maybe it's just me...However...in New York, when the shootings are taking place, nobody calls the cops while the two girls are being killed in the hallway.in New York - at a vacant lot (I assume where every other gangster has to be killed when they get killed) the guy gets shot up in front of a car yet every bullet hits the person and nobody misses a single shot and hits the car.in New Jersey OR Conneticut - wherever the family lives now, teen son has to pump out the rap music like every other gangster movie made...it's not bad enough that he drives a bad ass car and dresses like every other O.G. who lives, no he has to blast the car radio with rap, then when he leaves his car, he has to hit another bunch of rap tunes in his headphones...the guy just can't get that crap out of his ears.Move to the New Jersey house when they woman and man are scoping out the house looking to kill anybody inside...the girlfriend has to scream as they are hiding under the stairwell.I would only assume if somebody is coming at you with an arsenal of weaponry, that you would shut your mouth and keep a low profile as possible, but her logic is to scream and draw attention...OK...I guess. She's not the brightest bulb in the box, but hey...Then...when the two hit men come back to the house...the entire living room is shot to hell and the floor upstairs as well...however there is no intense police work or search or interrogation or investigative work done.Wow...and the hit men have no skills either.Now, I no longer live in the USA, but I can only assume that if you live in the States, own a gun or two and your job is to kill people that you would have some sort of skill and ability to actually do it. Not only that, but they have to draw so much attention while doing there job...secrecy is key guys.You wanna off somebody? You do it quietly, avoid the public as much as possible and in a fashion where you don't get remembered for any reason, so that you can walk away with little worry.Not only that, but they must have magic bullets - because when they are shooting upwards into a second floor, the bullets magically bunch off the broken window and head back down into a closet doorway instead of embedding themselves into the ceiling or upper wall...I guess the hit men do have special skills after all.Ah, the ending...what could be said....I won't comment any further, I might give away a few flaws.

I liked the movie, it is pretty good most of the time. It is a nice surprise because you don't find many movies about the Puerto Rican gangs and the roles are done by Hispanic actors.Stereotypical sometimes, but you have nice acting, specially when Wilson Jr. has to shoot for the first time. He is trembling and scared what everybody should be after some bad experience.The mom does a good acting trying to be protective and hard at the same time.It is a good movie, a bit different from the rest of the movies you usually watch about the mafia.

What a little jewel of a film, and to think that I almost missed it because of negative comments by some viewers and critics. I enjoyed it from beginning to end. You have to take it for what it is and just enjoy the ride. It is an action-packed thriller, well acted and never boring. Although John Singleton was only a producer of this film (it was directed by Franc Reyes). If you enjoy Mr. Singleton's type of films, you will certainly enjoy this one. I highly recommend it for EVERYONE, but especially for those that understand Spanish. Reggaeton star Tego Calderon, acting on his first film, was fantastic, as well as the performances of Rick Gonzalez, Dania Ramirez and the wonderful Wanda De Jesus. It was a hard-hitting film, with gripping action and suspense, with a great music soundtrack. Do yourself a favor, rent the DVD and see for yourself. You won't regret it.