Rudo y Cursi (2009) - 70%
If you hated Goal and it’s bastard sequels, then this might well be the footballing film for you. Eschewing the inevitably awful CGI and terrible super-impositions - not to mention painful ‘banter’ and entirely unsympathetic characters - Rudo y Cursi opts to provide an actual story complete with jokes and a deeper understanding of the beautiful game.
Rudo and Cursi are perhaps the most mismatched half-brothers of all time: one an aggressive gambling addict (Rudo, Diego Luna), the other a sometimes hapless but well-meaning romantic and aspiring singer (Cursi, Gael Garcia Bernal). However, one thing they have in common is their talent; that and their stroke of luck in coming across talent scout Batuta (Guillermo Francella), who uses his contacts and his charm to get them signed professionally. Here on in the pressures of professional football, fame, fortune and gambling addiction blight what should be a fairytale rise from a small Mexican village to national success.
Far from being an anodyne aspirational tale (a la Goal), or for the most part a chart of the journey to footballing success (again), Rudo & Cursi is something of a goofy satire about what happens when one reaches one’s dreams and finds the result not quite as expected. In fact, even this seems an excessively dramatic summary, so let us borrow from Nola.com’s Mike Scott and call it “a delightful shrug of a movie”. Nested in and amongst this (forgive me) dromedy is a story of brotherly love and loyalty, and just enough poetic insight into the sporting artform to satisfy those drawn in by the premise, and promise, of football.
Featuring two or three wonderful performances matched only by their easy chemistry, the film’s occasional cliches are effortlessly washed over and forgiven. Carlos Cuarón (brother of accomplished director Alfonso; Y Tu Mamá También, Pan’s Labyrinth, Harry Potter: POA) provides an enviable directorial debut, showing a versatility from both himself and his cast. He co-wrote Y Tu Mamá También which also features Bernal and Luna, our two title characters, and Rudi y Cursi is something of a departure though a far from unsuccessful one. In light of this, full credit goes to all involved for making a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining watch.
70%
