Throughout Will Ferrell's prolific acting career, he has pushed the lowbrow humor envelope, adopting various outrageous personas along the way. He was an ignorant, jingoistic racecar driver in "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" (2006), a clumsy human with a Christmas?inspired identity crisis in "Elf" (2003) and a fashion design icon known for the invention of the piano key necktie in "Zoolander" (2001).
In his latest film, "Casa de Mi Padre" Ferrell has yet again expanded his horizons to uncharted comedic territory. This time, Ferrell stars as the Mexican farmhand, Armando Alvarez. If this latest character does not strike viewers as goofy enough, however, Ferrell's role comes with one more unique twist: He, along with all of his film companions, speaks entirely in Spanish.
Yes, Ferrell has transplanted himself into the wacky world of the hyperbolic, daytime Spanish soap operas, or "telenovelas," treading foreign language waters for the first time in his career. In fact, the American funnyman holds his own, despite being surrounded by an overwhelmingly Hispanic cast of established actors. Though his accent is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, his sincerity and physical humor come across in this bold portrayal.
The film focuses on Armando's peaceful, simple life working on his father's ranch. When his brother, Raul (Diego Luna), comes to visit, the film shifts and focuses on a surprisingly relevant theme: the Mexican drug cartel. Raul, who arrives with his beautiful fiancee, Sonia (Genesis Rodriguez), is under immense pressure from the ruthless drug lord, La Onza (Gael Garc?aBernal). Known for his dull and dim?witted behavior, Armando must fend off his brother's pursuers in an attempt to protect his family. As the story progresses, Armando receives assistance from his two trusty sidekicks, Esteban (Efren Ramirez) and Manuel (Adrian Martinez), and experiences perverse sexual tension with the stunning Sonia.
Hollywood has a tendency to overproduce films, even satires. But this feature embraces its telenovela style, showcasing its ridiculousness with unconvincing, eroding set pieces and cheap imitations of Mexican wildlife. The low budget quality is further embodied by intentionally defective cuts and continuity errors, all of which add a distinct flavor to the film's humor. At one point, audiences even see mannequins take the place of extras so as not to overstep the movie's presumed budgetary restrictions.
Director Matt Piedmont executes his first feature film with aplomb despite several shortcomings in the script and the restrictive nature of a Spanish language film intended for American viewers. Piedmont and Ferrell have a long history, since Piedmont was a writer for "Saturday Night Live" during Ferrell's glory years on the show. The chemistry between the two is undeniable, as the Ferrell?centric feature delivers raucous laughs.
Furthermore, Luna and Bernal, two prominent Mexican actors known for their dramatic roles, embrace their foray into comedy. Bernal is simultaneously devious and whimsical, delivering chilling lines while experimenting with slapstick motifs, such as smoking two cigarettes at once so as to further intimidate his prey.
Unfortunately, the movie struggles to maintain consistency in its comedic tone. Though some jokes really hit home with audiences and elicit rumbling laughter - take, for example, any scene with Nick Offerman, who plays a DEA officer with an uncanny knack for butchering the Spanish language - many jokes and subplots are flat and uninspired.
Overall, "Casa de mi Padre" is a worthwhile film for its campiness and kitsch, which satisfy the average American audiences' undying thirst for innovation. Yet the film is clearly not a classic Ferrell comedy, and should not be mentioned in the same sentence as films like "Old School" (2003) and "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" (2004).
