How not to be a little envious of Robert Rodriguez? The guy weaponizes women’s tits for a living, fer chrissakes.

The Texan native, all charm and brawniness, is a man’s man: he sticks to his guns and traces his own destiny. And even though he makes oft-gruesome movies, films like “Planet Terror” and “El Mariachi” have their place in the American canon. Besides, giving credit where credit is due, for his most recent film “Machete Kills” Rodriguez cast and directed Charlie Sheen and Mel Gibson, the sort of people you usually don’t want anywhere your film set.

So I say, hoo-ha, Robert! My hat’s off to you.

Hailing from the mexploitation genre which he himself originated, “Machete Kills” (Open Road) which stars Danny Trejo, Michelle Rodriguez and Sofia Vergara comes out today (see below for stills from the film). Rodriguez (he directs, writes and produces) had originally written the script in 1993 and had had Trejo in mind for the lead role from day one.

Trejo returns as former Mexican Police detective-turned-spy Machete, who is recruited by U.S. President Rathcock (Charlie Sheen) to stop madman revolutionary Mendez (Demián Bichir) from launching a missile aimed at Washington, D.C. However, Machete soon learns the real threat is an international criminal organization led by an eccentric billionaire arms dealing terrorist named Luther Voz (Mel Gibson), who has launched a conspiracy to start riots in every country.

In recent interviews Texas-based Rodriguez has cited Sharon Stone as his ultimate fantasy and Robert Harmon’s “Hitcher” as a masterpiece (Rodriguez finds Rutger Hauer terrifying).

Just as soon as the shell casings have cooled down Rodriguez’s “Sim City 2” will be coming out at the end of 2014.

DRILLDOWN- Rodriguez talks up “Machete” at Comic-Con