TME Review:Casa De Mi Padre
Release Date: March 16, 2012 (limited)
Studio: Pantelion Films
Director: Matt Piedmont
Screenwriter: Andrew Steele
Starring: Will Ferrell, Gael Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna, Genesis Rodriguez, Efren Ramirez, Adrian Martinez, Pedro Armendariz Jr., Nick Offerman
Genre: Comedy
Rating:R {Language, Drug Use, Bloody Violence and Some Sexual Content }
Casa De Mi Padre is truly a unique experience. Not since the old Naked Gun movies has a movie been so self-aware in its parody, not only of its genre but of itself. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a movie so hard to describe. It has musical numbers, bad effects, and some of the most hammed up acting. Yet, this is all part of its charm. The movie makes all the wrong moves in all the right ways to give it a surreal sense of humor.
Casa De Mi Padre follows Armando Alvarez (Farrell), as he looks to save his family ranch from encroaching drug lords, earn respect from his father and newly returned brother, and fight feelings for his brother’s fiance. All of these issues are handled with the grace of a jack hammer, and yet the irreverence seems to go so far as to come out the other side as endearing. While the movie is not without its dirty humor, it’s surprisingly clean. I keep wanting to compare this film with the Naked Gun movies, and I assure you it’s not a bad thing. I loved those movies, and I haven’t seen its brand of “mid brow” humor in a long time. It has low brow humor played off so intelligently that it will make you laugh no matter what your tastes.
The casting is great across the board. Pedro Armendáriz Jr. is my favorite, as Armando’s father. He was a gifted actor and this movie is actually dedicated to him. We also see the Hollywood premiere of Genesis Rodriguez. She is beautiful and play across from Farrell perfectly. Now I will be the first to admit, I am not the biggest Will Farrell fan. I find his movies to be pretty hit or miss. I loved Anchorman and hated Talladega Nights. I loved Zoolander and hated Elf. This movie is a home run for me. If you love him, go see it. If you hate him, go see it anyway.
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