CASA DI MI PADRE

US, 2012, 84 minutes, Colour.
Will Ferrell, Gael Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna, Genesis Rodriguez, Pedro Amendariz Jr, Nick Offerman.
Directed by Matt Piedmont.

This is an offbeat comedy, rather slight, but often funny. It is a parody of the telenovella, so popular in Mexico and in other Latin American countries. The style of the film, from the title, to the characters and the melodramatic and heightened situations are very much of the telenovella.

But, this is an American film, with Will Ferrell in the central role, speaking and singing in Spanish, playing a rather dim-witted Mexican son, not in favour with his father who focuses all his attention on the other brother, played by Diego Luna. While Armando is faithful to his father and on the property, his suave brother is a drug dealer, in conflict with the drug Lord, played by the diminutive Gael Garcia Bernal. Genesis Rodriguez is glamorous as his niece, about to marry the drug dealer but falling in love with Armando.

There are complications, confrontations, shootouts, as well as riding and romance in the desert. It is certainly not meant to be taken seriously.

1. An entertaining spoof? Of westerns? Of Mexican films? The style of Mexican telenovellas? Characters, style, content?

2. The locations, the US, the West, Mexico, the desert, the hacienda, the drug world? Musical score and style?

3. A US and Mexican plot? Use of Spanish language? Will Ferrell and his speaking Spanish?

4. Will Ferrell, Mexican, slow-witted, earnest, his father putting him down, praising his brother, his relationship with his brother? The issue of drugs, violence? His singing? The telenovela hero?

5. The father, hard, his death, blessing for his son?

6. The brother, easy-going, with Sonia, his hopes, smooth-talking, his dialogue, standards?

7. Onza, the drug Lord, Sonia, the relationship, his jealousy? Self-confidence, the DEA, the shootout, his death?

8. Sonia, with Onza, her back story, the anguished heroine, suffering, going riding, the bond with Armando, softening, the motivation, the preparation for the wedding, and not being in love with her husband? The interruption to the wedding?

9. Onza, tough, in action, his henchmen, the deals, with Raul, confronting under?

10. The DEA officer, tough, the other silent, the shootout and the role of the silent officer?

11. The dialogue, funny, the parody, the ending?

12. Would Mexicans enjoy it or not? But the reality as spoofable?