Review of Casa de Mi Padre (2012) by Caleb H — 17 Jul 2012
When Casa de mi Padre opened with Christina Aguilera belting a 70's Bond-Esque tune, I knew I was in for something different. Fortunately, I usually like different. As a film, this one's not for mainstream audiences, and those unfamiliar with low-budget 70's cinema and cheapo Spanish films probably won't enjoy Casa de mi Padre at all.
You have been warned. For those of us in on the joke, this is a fun little sendup of a bygone genre. Will Ferrell, who demonstrates an impressive grasp on the Spanish language, is in full-overacting mode as Armando Alvarez, a rancher who finds himself stuck in the middle of a drug-war between his brother (Diego Luna) and a nasty kingpin (Gael Garcia Bernal), all while romancing his brother's fiance (Genesis Rodriguez), and trying to earn the respect of his father (Pedro Armendirez, Jr).
No, it's not a complicated film-these sort of movies never were back in the day. Writer Andrew Steele and director Matt Piedmont have a lot of fun skewering the whole genre of films-from the constant smoking, to the poorly designed sets, to the matte backgrounds, to the obviously fake horses.
My personal favorite touch is how Ferrell seems to spend half the movie reading his lines slightly out of frame, from cue cards, which was pretty common in Grindhouse / cheapo cinema. Will Ferrell is outside of his comfort zone, but he understands the material and plays the movie perfectly.
I couldn't think of a weak link among the talented cast; Gael Garcia Bernal has fun playing a scumbag, Genesis Rodriguez is absolutely beautiful, and Diego Luna spends most of his scenes acting like he's drunk (another Z-Movie staple).
As with most genre satires, Casa de mi Padre works because the filmmakers are lovingly satirizing the films, not simply poking fun at them; the film is as much an homage as a parody. Parodic humor doesn't work when the material is treated condescendingly, which Steele and Piedmont understand.
Casa de me Padre isn't the most accessible movie, especially for those expecting a raucuous Will Ferrell comedy. Anyone who appreciates satire, or has an affection for low-budget cinema / crappy, late-night Spanish movies will at least be entertained.
This isn't a gut busting comedy, but it's an excellent satire.
This review of Casa de Mi Padre (2012) was written by Caleb H on 17 Jul 2012.
Casa de Mi Padre has generally received mixed reviews.
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