#140RVW
You knew it would be funny. The question was how funny? Good enough for a sketch, but a feature? Well, it’s very good & very wisely short…
Usted sabía que sería divertido. La cuestión era cómo gracioso? Lo suficientemente bueno para un boceto, pero una característica? Bueno, es muy bueno y muy sabiamente a corto …
What’s more:
I’m beginning to think that Will Ferrell is the best straight man working right now. I really think he could handle just about any role or genre at this point in his career.
Casa de Mi Padre is an idea that seems perfectly suited for a sketch show – sending up Mexican films and telenovelas. You knew instinctively that it was going to be a very funny spoof. Harder to know is how well this would play out as an entire film.
Fortunately, it doesn’t overstay it’s welcome. It keeps the action moving at a good pace, even if the laughs don’t come as quickly or frequently. I’m not sure it wouldn’t have been equally entertaining if it was half as long, but it certainly never drags.
Having an American comic speak all of his lines in Spanish is wonderful. Ferrell is really good – enough so that I was wondering if he was dubbed for the first few minutes. The presentation wouldn’t be half as effective in English, and so tres bien to the filmmakers.
The production is really good, by which I mean it’s really awful. The rear-projection car rides, the obviously painted landscapes, the claustrophobic sets, the blatant doubles, the dreadful animal effects – it’s all amazing. In fact, I laughed far more at the sight gags and deliberate low-production value than I did at any of the dialogue.
The songs are really good, too, from the James Bondian opening credit sequence (sung by Christina Aguilera) to the campfire tune “Yo No Se”.
Ultimately, though? It’s more amusing than truly funny. Don’t expect riotous laughs and you’ll have a good time.
Poster:
Trailer:
Bechdel Test:
Fail
The Representation Test Score: D
(http://therepresentationproject.org/grading-hollywood-the-representation-test/)
I really have no idea how to grade this one. It’s either a D or an F. I think I need to get some clarification from the Representation Project on how to handle movies like this. It’s an exploitation picture, really. There are of course racial stereotypes, but I’m not sure I’d say that they are reduced to stereotypes – it’s not like the only aspect of the characters. And it’s farce; I dunno – I’m passing on this one.
| Main Cast | Will Ferrell Armando, Gael García Bernal Onza, Diego Luna Raul, Nick Offerman DEA Agent Parker |
| Rating | R |
| Release Date | Fri 11 May 2012 UTC |
| Director | Matt Piedmont |
| Genres | Comedy, Western |
| Plot | Scheming on a way to save their father’s ranch, the Alvarez brothers find themselves in a war with Mexico’s most feared drug lord. |
| Poster |  |
| Runtime | 84 |
| Tagline | Funniest movie you’ll ever read. |
| Writers | Andrew Steele (written by) |
| Year | 2012 |