Film Review: Rudo Y Cursi

January 5th, 2009 | by: Andrea | Comments(2)

Not too many films about the beautiful game come around, and those that do are hard to find. A film about the game in Mexico seems even a little bit more rare. Recently, a new film, Rudo Y Cursi, was released to the public although currently it is only in Spanish.

Throw in amazing actors(Gael Garcia Bernal & Diego Luna), amazing production team(Guillermo Del Toro, Alfonso Cuaron, Alejandro González Iñarritu), and an amazing director/writer(Carlos Cuaron (Y Tu Mama Tambien)) and you have an amazing movie.

The movie showcases the new Mexican cinema that has been quietly growing over the past years and this film is sure to make an impact on the international scene.

The Fantastic Duo of Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna are reunited to tell the story of Toto and Beto (Rudo and Cursi which translates to rough and corny), two brothers who get the chance to make in the world of sports. The movie starts with an important concept in football: the penalty. The thing that can make someone a hero, or a villain. Through the course of the movie we go through the real problems of the sports industry. Drugs, gambling, opportunist women, money, homophobia, alternative dreams, poverty,fame, corruption of everyone, etc are included. At times the film is hilarious but it does take a serious turn. If you thought that the rich life was all fun and games, it seems like we outsiders don’t know the full story of it.

The film is funny but I don’t recommend it for a young audience. Bad language is prominent and full nudity is all around(A LOT) while a sex scene takes place.

Some of the jokes will be hard to understand without a lot of knowledge of the Mexican culture but even without that it should be enjoyable.

Besides the name recognition that comes with it, try to ignore that and just see it because it is a movie about the game. At times you’ll laugh(a lot actually) and at times you’ll cringe but that’s what makes it so great. The movie isn’t afraid to “go there.”

I saw this movie while on vacation, but with the wonderful internet it is bound to pop up somewhere soon. If not, then when it does come to a theater near you I strongly recommend you to watch Rudo Y Cursi.