Casa De Mi Padre

Look, there’s only one reason you’re going to go and see Casa de mi Padre, and that’s because you love Will Ferrell, you’ve loved him in Anchorman (you’re still quoting it aren’t you?) – for you “Frank the Tank” made Old School – who knows, maybe you’ve got a soft spot for Blades of Glory, you’ve even gone through those SNL gemstones like Superstar and Night at the Roxbury, you are the type of movie goer who knows just how much cowbell is too much cowbell – it’s safe to say you (like me) are a Will Ferrell fan …and it’s for this reason I’m asking you not to watch Casa de mi Padre.

Essentially the movie is one long joke that falls flat after the first few minutes, Ferrell is the unassuming and simple minded rancher working with his brothers who all live in the shadow of their youngest sibling Raúl who has gone off to the city to make his fortune, their peaceful existence interrupted only by the occasional drug gang using their land for nefarious deeds. Things get turned upside down when their younger brother returns with his bride to be in tow.

It transpires that Raúl is in fact not an international businessman and pulls the family into the drug war, chaos and supposed hilarity ensue as Armando (Ferrell) bumbles after the beautiful and betrothed Sonia. Of course all of this is conducted in Spanish which though admirable the whole send up of the Mexican TV soap opera has been ridiculed much better in the shot animated stints that broke up King of the Hill – here strained over 84 minutes your good natured intent of “in Will I trust” will soon be climbing the walls as the funny fails to materialise, several of the journos around me fell asleep but that may have had more to do with the beer and burritos made available before the screening.

Much as it pains me the whole affair could have been summed up as a five minute Saturday night live sketch and contained just as many laughs. I’m unaware if Ferrell has any love of ‘telenovela’ (I’m sure he would have been exposed to enough of it trickling through on American TV) or whether this was a chance to show off his prowess? 

Ferrell aficionados will no doubt stump up their cash to see their hero chew the scenery and sing many of the soundtracks songs himself but as a Ferrell fan I have to ask you not to, if you’re going to take a punt of Ferrell brining the funny seek out a copy of Superstar instead – you’ll thank me later.

By Neil Gorton