Foreign films in general are not my forte', but lately I have become intrigued by Mexican cinema. The last film that really garnered my attention in this genre' was Amores Perros. When word began to come out about the sensational new movie featuring one of the main stars from Perros, I decided to check out the Special Engagement here in Los Angeles. I found Y Tu Mama Tambien to be a moderately satisfying and well-done film, but not the wonder I had heard about.
This movie revolves around two college bound best friends who have grown up together. Tenoch (Diego Luna) is from an upper middle class in Mexico whose father is a member of one of the ruling political parties. Julio (Gael García Bernal) is a lower middle class guy whose mother is a secretary and supports the family. They both have girlfriends who are going away to Europe for the summer. Once their girls are gone, Julio & Tenoch are complete clowns and total buddies in a Mexican youthful kind of way. They share everything, even more things than they initially know. Julio and Tenoch meet the wife of Tenoch's cousin Jano at a wedding. Her name is Luisa (Maribel Verdu) and they invite her on a trip they say they are going to take to the beach. They never really expect her to call, and when things lead her to call them, they begin a 3-day road trip to the ocean.
The story sounds simple and boring but it is not. The film is narrated, and the narrator points out different things in a matter of fact way. The filmmakers also paint a clear picture of the class differences and political issues faced in Mexico all while tow horny 18 year olds are trying to have sex with willing females. It is a teenager sex film that will not interest most American teenagers unless they are from Mexico or understand the culture. The audience in the U.S. that willingly goes to see teen films will be perplexed with this film with it's plot and character development. It is a coming of age film that is done with class and sensitivity. The characters are real and their dilemmas seem convincing. Y Tu Mama Tambien contains great performances from all three of the main actors in this film. The story is interesting, but not necessarily compelling. Unfortunately, I went in to this film expecting a complex story like Amores Perros and I got a Mexican American Pie with more realistic well-developed characters and a purpose to the story.
The movie opens with two back to back sex scenes that certainly must have played a part in the No Rating given, making this a 17 and older film only. This is not a movie based on sex, it is a movie about lives in which sex is a part of, and it does not shelter us from sexuality at all.
Not a film for the average moviegoer, it is entirely in Spanish and has subtitles. Y Tu Mama Tambien is a well-acted coming of age story that is done in a manner that we have not seen done recently.
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