He’s helped by charismatic, pleasingly ambivalent performances by all involved, and while a later penalty sequence is needlessly prolonged, it doesn’t diminish the film’s cumulative effect. Serious fun.
Rudo and Cursi (2009)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:102
Fresh:74
Rotten:28
Average Rating:6.3/10
Consensus: Despite its fair share of sports movie cliches, Rudo y Cursi marks an auspicious directing debut for Carlos Cuarón, and features strong performances from García Bernal and Luna.
Rated: 15 [See Full Rating] for pervasive language, sexual content and brief drug use.
Genre: Comedies
Theatrical Release:26-06-2009
Synopsis: Beto (Diego Luna) and Tato (Gael García Bernal) Verdusco are brothers who work at a banana plantation and also play soccer for the village team. Nicknamed “Tough” because of his personality and... Beto (Diego Luna) and Tato (Gael García Bernal) Verdusco are brothers who work at a banana plantation and also play soccer for the village team. Nicknamed “Tough” because of his personality and football style, Beto dreams of becoming a professional soccer player; Tato’s dream is to be a famous singer, and both share the dream of building a house for their mother, Elvira (Dolores Heredia). They have a change in luck when “Batuta,” a soccer talent scout, discovers them accidentally. Tato is the first to move to the big city where he becomes the star goal scorer for the prestigious Deportivo Amaranto (Amaranto Club). His baroque playing style earns him the nickname of “Corny”. Although Beto feels he has been betrayed and left behind, he soon travels to Mexico City to become the goalkeeper for Atlético Nopaleros (Nopaleros Team). At the peak of glory, they forget all animosity, although it does not last long. At the very real possibility of fulfilling all of their dreams, the siblings must face an innate rivalry as well as their own demons and limitations. Beto is a gambler and allows his addiction to drag him down; Tato is unable to recognize his true talents and squanders every opportunity by pursuing a false idea of celebrity and status. The dream seems to slip through their fingers. And it is at their worst moment that the brothers find forgiveness trying o help each other while casting headlong towards their individual destiny.--© Sony Pictures Classics [More]
Starring: Gael Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna, Jessica Mas
Starring: Gael Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna, Jessica Mas
Director: Carlos Cuaron
Director: Carlos Cuaron
Screenwriter: Carlos Cuaron
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics
Reviews for Rudo and Cursi
This is a movie enlivened by the two stars’ goofy love-hate relationship, its all-pervasive cynicism and the film-maker’s mischievous decision to keep his eye off the ball.
Lacks dramatic punch and satirical bite — it’s all rather cartoonish — but it’s full of great characters and moves at an energetic pace. This is a superior buddy film.
Not as obviously delightful as Y tu mamá también, Rudo y Cursi is never less than enjoyable, helped by charismatic playing between two stars constantly calling each other "pendejo" and some gorgeous camera work from Adam Kimmel.
It’s a tale of two humble Mexican boys filmed with rough-around-the-edges production values and lots of energy, whose appeal will stretch to footie fans who wouldn’t normally park themselves in front of a subtitled film.
It scores high on clichés but makes up for it with lots of fizzing energy and lively turns. Indeed it's more screwball than football.
Cuarón’s spirited footie fable is a game of two halves, buzzing with balls, bimbos and black comedy, but ultimately unable to bring home the trophy. Bernal gets man of the match, no contest.
This tale of two brothers seems to be a comic satire on ambition, but the laughs are desperately hard to come by.
Fame and fortune are not what they had anticipated in this well-acted fable that requires you to suspend disbelief not least because both brothers seem to be too old to be budding football stars.
Cuaron’s mixture of near farce and realism works well most of the time, though there are moments when the narration suffers from too many meaningless metaphors.
This is rarely anything more than an entertaining romp, going for belly laughs rather than satirical incisiveness.
Beneath its gritty visual realism -- which feels more suited to a full-on drama -- it's a delightful shrug of a movie.
All you can see are a pair of aging jocks laboring for condescending yuks
Latest News for Rudo and Cursi
June 28, 2009:
Edinburgh 2009: RT's 10 Must-See Movies
The Edinburgh Film Festival has come to a close and Rotten Tomatoes thought we'd make a traditional look back over all of the films playing at this year's fest and present to... More...
June 28, 2009:
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Diego Luna is bristling at RT's suggestion he pick just five favourite films. "It's really unfair to have to say only five films," he complains as he picks his final choice.... More...
June 28, 2009:
Five Favourite Films with Gael Garcia Bernal
Gael Garcia Bernal may be Mexico's best known acting export of recent years, having made a powerful debut in Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's Amores perros in 2000. A year later he... More...
June 26, 2009:
RT Interview: Director Carlos Cuaron on Rudo and Cursi
Brother of Children Of Men helmer Alfonso Cuaron and Oscar-nominated screenwriter of sizzling Mexican roadtripper Y Tu Mama Tambien, Carlos Cuaron makes his directorial debut... More...
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