Rudo y Cursi

Screenwriter and brother of more famous director Alfonso Cuaron (Children of Men), Carlos Cuaron makes his directorial bow with a deliciously detailed, acted and scripted Rudo y Cursi.  Rudo y Cursi reunites the pair of actors that made a Mexican cinema an international sensation a few years ago, Y Tu Mama Tambien (which he scripted). Rudo (Diego Luna) and Cursi (Gael Garcia Bernal) are a pair of soccer playing brothers brought to national prominence and fame by talent scout/huckster, Batuto (Guillermo Francela). Their respective rises and falls are lovingly sketched with rich detail, humor and pathos. Cursi is a lovable hick with outside aspirations of being a professional accordion player. He gets his one break at fame with sidesplitting music video send up performing a Norteno version of Cheap Trick’s I Want You to Want Me. Cursi is a more troubled individual with a gambling jones that ultimately undoes him. The chemistry between Bernal and Luna is phenomenal. Argentine comic Francela plays a pitch perfect promoter – in each new scene a new beautiful chica on his arm.

Originally published in EL Magazine, February 2010