Casa De Mi Padre

I can't say the world was crying out for a parody of Spanish language Telenovelas, but this is the best one you will ever see.

Will Ferrell stars as Armando - the not so bright son of a wealthy Mexican rancher. Just as his successful brother, Raul (Diego Luna), returns home to introduce the family to his future bride, Sonia (Genesis Rodriguez), a big time drug dealer, Onza (Gael Garcia Bernal), starts to make his move to take over the ranch.

Can Armando protect the family from this evildoer?

What does Onza want from Raul?

Ferrell often is mocked for overacting or grabbing onto a project that hasn't been fully developed, but, since Land of the Lost tanked in 2009, he has been much more selective (The Other Guys was fantastic) and jumped into some short term, smaller roles (like appearing on The Office). Casa De Mi Padre falls into that strategy wonderfully as we get to see him play a funny character, but within the construct of a good movie where he doesn't have to work so hard to squeeze laughs out of a weak script.

Director Matt Piedmont embraces the parody style by providing plenty of moments that will make you giggle, guffaw and laugh (couldn't think of another word that began with "G"). Visually, the audience is treated to some eye catching jokes to make us feel like we are watching a cheaply made B-movie like the fake horse riding or intentionally bad editing. More would have been better, but, I have to admire Piedmont's restraint, which keeps the movie from getting out of control.

Sure, I think we could have had more laughs, but Casa De Mi Padre is a movie that succeeds with restraint, and picking the right moments to be crazy.

Casa De Mi Padre is rated R for bloody violence, language, some sexual content and drug use.