Born in East L.A. (1987)

Rudy (an excellent and engaging performance by Cheech Marin) gets deported to Mexico after he's mistaken for an illegal immigrant by the authorities. Rudy has to figure out a way to return to America.Writer/director Marin maintains a likable lighthearted tone throughout, relates the enjoyable story at a snappy pace, offers a flavorsome evocation of the south of the border setting, and provides moments of genuine warmth and compassion amid all the infectious humor. The able cast helps a lot: Paul Rodriguez really struts his hysterical comedic stuff as Rudy's dim-witted Mexican cousin Javier, Daniel Stern lends sturdy support as slick opportunistic hustler Jimmy, Kamala Lopez adds plenty of charm as the sweet, yet feisty Dolores, Jan-Michael Vincent has a stand-out cameo as ramrod immigration officer McCalister, Tony Plana excels as wormy hoodlum Feo, and the gorgeous Neith Hunter burns up the screen with her memorably sexy turn as foxy French redhead Marcie. Both Lee Holdridge's jaunty score and Alex Phillips, Jr.'s sharp cinematography are up to speed. A real hoot.

Only three memorable things about this movie: Neith Hunter in a painted on dress that comes down no further than a bathing suit, in four inch spike heels, walking across some city streets. And then standing over Cheech as he comes out from under her car. Oh, my god. Jan Michael Vincent, no longer The Worldest Greatest Athlete. Now perfectly cast as a puffy, dim-witted, horrifying example of the wastes of alcohol. The theme song's not bad.

I love this movie! Next to "Shrimp on the Barbie," this is my favorite Cheech Marin movie as he goes on to prove he can actually be funny by not playing a pothead. A Mexican-American dragged across the border, he shows the lengths he is willing to go to return home and prove he is an American, but there is also a sensitive and heart-warming touch to his range as he proves he is also a good guy and not just some clown. Daniel Stern is also a hoot as an opportunist, and Paul Rodriguez flexes his comedic muscle that we his fans appreciate so much.

An idea suited more toward a 10 minute sketch is stretched to feature length in this decent enough comedy. The beginning and end are excellent ideas for perhaps a Saturday Night Live bit, but to pad the running time to its meek 87 minute point, writer-director-star Marin throws in some moderately entertanining moments. It all begins when he shows up at a factory to pick up his illegal alien cousin, but a surprise immagration raid ensues and, in the madness, an identification-less Marin is deported to Mexico. After some humorously done attempts at crossing the border fail, he goes to work for Stern, some sort of thumb-in-several pies businessman in Tijauna. In one of his pre-"Wonder Years" voice, City Slickers and Home Alone roles, Stern is great as the high octane Jimmy, a sauve operator of anything money related. He puts Marin to work encouraging passers by to enter a bar, or has him selling oranges on a street corner, and in one of the films best gags, teaching a bunch of dopey non-English speaking foreigners how to carry themselves in LA. The "wass-sappening" boys will be well remembered. But when the well runs dry at several points, Marin resorts to an extensive amount of musical numbers to suck up time. He throws in a half-hearted romance that doesn't really go anywhere, which may have given the film a little more to chew on. But its well worth the wait for the truly ingenius ending that I wouldn't dare spoil, only to say it cleverly incorparates Neil Diamond's "America". I would guess that Marin came up with the ending first and tried to come up with enough antics to reach that point. If you're patient, it should pay off well for you. Marin also contributed the memorable title song as well.