Review of Casa de Mi Padre (2012) by Juan F — 11 Jun 2013

Will Ferrell's movies are--for me--hit or miss. CASA DE MI PADRE is a miss, though there are a few things I liked about it. The most pleasantly surprising aspect of the film is that it's in Spanish w/ English subtitles throughout. Ferrell does a great job acting in a second language, and this feature alone makes the film sufficiently strange and funny. There are also some good jokes, and the retro-spoof look of the whole thing is also pleasant. Finally, there are a few moments of really strong social commentary re: America's drug policy. So while CASA DE MI PADRE is, on the surface, a parody of Mexican soap operas and westerns, it also satirizes America's hypocrisy vis-a-vis "the war on drugs," so-called "border security," and international relations in the Americas more generally.

Unfortunately, despite these redeeming qualities, CASA DE MU PADRE falls flat. Its silliness starts to grate on the nerves after awhile, and the best comedy is relatively scant. This film is more bizarre than it is funny, and that is a disappointment--especially considering how funny Ferrell can be.