A character-based comedy set in the world of Mexican football (soccer), Rudo y Cursi is a story about sibling rivalry, family dynamics, and the vagaries of big-time athletics, following a pair of none-too-bright soccer-playing half-brothers from the boonies (a reunion for Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal, stars of Alfonso Cuaron's 2001 smash Y Tu Mama Tambien). In writer-director (and brother of Alfonso) Carlos Cuaron's film, the pair play Beto and Tato, stepbrothers working on a banana plantation in rural Mexico, who strut their stuff on local football fields during their spare time. After an agent spots the duo and recognizes them as diamonds in the rough, the lads eventually both wind up under his wing in Mexico City, where they become stars—Beto nicknamed Rudo (Tough) and Tato dubbed Cursi (Corny)—on different teams. Since neither can handle the fame and fortune, things go downhill fast in a morass of spending and gambling, and the season ends in a finale pitting champion scorer Tato against champion goalie Beto—a match that will determine the rest of their careers. Bernal and Luna bring genuine grit to their characters, making them flawed, even foolish sometimes, but never slapstick clowns. Recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by director Carlos Cuarón and Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna, a 27-minute “making-of” featurette, five minutes of deleted scenes, an “I Want You to Want Me” music video performed by Bernal, the music video “Rudo y Cursi” by Juana Molina, a karaoke version of “I Want You to Want Me,” and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is a 71-minute Q&A with Cuarón, Bernal, and Luna. Bottom line: A fine extras package for a winning film.] (F. Swietek)
Rudo y Cursi
Sony, 102 min., in Spanish w/English subtitles, R, DVD: $28.98, Blu-ray: $39.95, Aug. 25 Volume 24, Issue 5
Rudo y Cursi
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