Runtime:
84 minutes
Directed
by: Matt Piedmont
Starring:
Will Ferrell, Genesis Rodriguez, Diego Luna, Efrain Ramirez
From:
Lionsgate
What
would make me go see a movie starring a guy that I generally do not
like? Why, a Spanish-language subtitled film (yes, Will speaks only
in Spanish) based on Mexican telenovelas that's also a grindhouse
low-budget sort of thing. Yes it's true. When I first saw the trailer
for it about a year ago, it just looked odd and I had trouble
believing it was something legit. Then, months later I saw another
trailer and yeah, it was true.
I
decided to check it out despite my feelings on the lead. Yep,
throughout all these years I've never thought of Will Ferrell as all
that funny. What I've seen of his most beloved films (i.e. Anchorman
and Step Brothers) I didn't laugh once and I was more puzzled than
anything else that people actually thought this was hilarious, as I
thought it was the opposite. I never laughed at what little I've seen
of him on SNL, and I am just baffled he is so beloved amongst people
my age (early 30's) and the 20's set. I just don't get it.
Still,
even I have to admit that at least sometimes he picks interesting
roles, so he's better than the worst of the worst and I'd pick him
over someone like Sandler or Christ, Tyler Perry. And this is
certainly a strange role to take, but I'm glad something this unique
got released to almost 400 screens in the United States. If only the
movie would have been better... but if you like Old Will, then your
mileage may vary.
The
plot isn't too complex. Armando Alvarez (Ferrell, looking as Mexican
as you'd imagine) works on the ranch of his father (Pedro Armendariz,
Jr.) ; his brother Raul (Luna) returns to the ranch with the rather
lovely Sonia (Rodriguez, and yeah she's quite easy on the eyes) and
he wants to marry her. Two problems, though... Sonia has a rather
seedy past, and Raul is a drug dealer who sends his supply to the
Americans. Armando also happens to be a dumb-witted fellow-shocking,
I know-so there's conflict there.
I
won't reveal more of the plot but I'll say that the reason why I
don't rate this higher is that the movie is not as funny as it thinks
it is. A lot of the jokes are either supposed to be funny because
they drag on for way too long or because they are awkward; sorry, but
neither one of those styles tickles my funny bone. Plus, Will's
character sometimes is really off-putting; that didn't help improve
my opinion of the person even though I should only judge him on the
character.
But
hey, there are some good things; they go with the joke that this is a
low-budget thing so you see actual squibs used during the shootouts
(which are fine) and the special effects are obviously fake, as are
the backdrops to some of the sets. There's also a take on the missing
reel gag, and that sort of grindhouse thing. Plus, the outfits fit
the movie and the groovy opening credits are the best part of the
film, I say.
So,
this wasn't awful at all. Lord knows I've seen many worse movies
(even on the big screen; unfortunately in the future I'll have to
watch Hell Ride again just so that I can rant and rave about how
awful it is; that has to be the worst theatrical movie I've ever
seen); it's more of a noble failure, you know, something I call a
misfire but I'm glad it was made as it's not the usual cookie-cutter
BS.
I'll
be back Sunday night with a new review.
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