MOVIE REVIEW: FLAMIN' HOT

 

Richard Montanez, the son of a Mexican immigrant, was a janitor at Frito Lay when he came up with the idea for Flamin' Hot Cheetos. His creation, inspired by the flavours of his community, revitalises Frito-Lay and disrupts the food industry.

Director: Eva Longoria

Cast: Jesse Garcia, Annie Gonzalez, Dennis Haysbert, Tony Shalhoub, Emilio Rivera, Matt Walsh

Release Date: June 9, 2023

Genre: Biography, Drama, History

Rated PG-13 for some strong language and brief drug material

Runtime: 1h 39m

Eva Longoria's directorial debut, Flamin' Hot, is engaging even as the story hits a lot of familiar beats from the underdog genre.  There's a hazy area as to how much is real and embellished but the film and story works onscreen due to some fun direction and likable performances from its central cast.  It works best as a fact based fable, similar to 1993's Rudy, where the true story isn't nearly as fun as the legend that's grown out of the myth.  Longoria manages to avoid some of more the clichéd pitfalls by delivering an efficient film that's easy to like because it manages to maintain an air of authenticity that grounds the entire thing.  Jesse Garcia does the lion's share of the heavy lifting with a performance that’s fun but surprisingly layered especially when the story explores his difficult upbringing and relationship with his wife played well by Annie Gonzalez.  Garcia and Gonzalez share a believable chemistry together which makes it easy to root for both of their characters.  The supporting cast is made up of strong character actors such as Dennis Haysbert, Tony Shalhoub, Matt Walsh and Emilio Rivera who each give their characters more depth than the script provides. It does feel like a missed opportunity not to give Shalhoub and Haysbert meatier roles but it’s a testament to their talent that they're able to leave their mark on the film.  Their characters function more as archetypes that fully formed characters and the film follows a predictable path but the cast and crew make Flamin' Hot far more enjoyable than it would have been in lesser hands.

B

MOVIE REVIEW: KEEPING UP WITH THE JONES

An ordinary suburban couple (Zach Galifianakis and Isla Fisher) discover that their hospitable new neighbors (Jon Hamm and Gal Gadot) are actually government spies. Soon, all four of them are caught up in an international espionage imbroglio. Greg Mottola (Superbad, Adventureland) directed this action comedy. ~ Daniel Gelb, Rovi

Director:Greg Mottola 

Cast: Zach Galifianakis, Jon Hamm, Isla Fisher, Gal Gadot, Matt Walsh

Release Date: Oct 21, 2016

Rated PG-13 for

Genres: Comedy

Review:

Keeping up with the Jones is a fun little comedy.  As a spy movie satire it’ll never live to last year’s Spy or even Mr. & Ms. Smith which it borrows heavily from as well.  Still, it’s light and breezy direction by Greg Mottola makes for an enjoyable if inconsequential comedy.  Its biggest strength is its cast.  The foursome of Zach Galifianakis, Jon Hamm, Isla Fisher & Gal Gadot are likeable throughout with each shining at one point or another. The plot in of itself is thread bare with nary a surprise in sight.  This oversight does leave the film lingering past its expiration point.  It’s a shame because with a slightly better script and plot this could have been something special. 

B-