Rudo y Cursi

City Paper Grade: B-

by Sam Adams

BROMANCE: Diego Luna (left) and Gael García Bernal play soccer-playing brothers in Rudo y Cursi. (CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER VERSION)

[ City Paper Grade: B- ]

Directed by unofficial Fourth Amigo Carlos Cuarón (the other three include Carlos’ brother Alfonso, Guillermo del Toro and Alejandro Gonzáles Iñárritu, who collectively own production company Cha Cha Cha Films), this unsteady fable pits rural half brothers against each other as each follows his known path to soccer superstardom. Beto (Diego Luna) and Tato (Gael García Bernal), known by their titular nicknames ("tough" and "corny," respectively), are thrust into the spotlight by an oily scout (Guillermo Francella), whose ambition is far stronger than his loyalty. Cuarón amuses himself, and occasionally us, with the transient silliness of fame. Beto, an accomplished striker, is allowed to indulge an altogether less prepossessing talent for singing via a stupendously cheesy version of Cheap Trick's "I Want You to Want Me," while Tato's payday allows the hitherto cautious family man to go on a gambling streak and rapidly lose his goalie’s jersey. The stars of Y Tu Mamá También, which Cuarón produced for Alfonso, are well-matched as love-hate rivals, although Bernal's talent has blossomed more fully than his erstwhile co-star's. But Cuarón's satire is too broad to draw much blood, and the movie has a vague and arbitrary quality which undercuts any cumulative effect.

—Sam Adams