FILM REVIEW: “The Casagrandes Movie”
[NOTE: There are some lightly-sprinkled spoilers here, but not enough to tell you that you can’t read this review until you’ve seen it.]
“The Casagrandes” is an outstanding television program, and “The Casagrandes Movie”, which I’ve now gotten to see, is an outstanding film that captures everything I love about “The Casagrandes”: the genuine wit, the charm, the distinctive personalities of each character, the warm spirit, the remarkable love of the culture and identity of a Mexican American family (aided considerably by the intense involvement had in both by the great comic artist Lalo Alcaraz), and, most of all, the continuous sense of entertainment.
All of the main Casagrandes familia, and the best known side character in the show, Sid Chang, are in this picture, which tells of the adventures of one Ronnie Anne Santiago, who has recently turned twelve years old, and accompanies her family on a trip to Mexico. The youngster, who initially appears to prefer going to a skating rink called “Extreme Eddie’s”, seeks to prove her independence to the family (not unlike Meilin Lee from the great film “Turning Red”), and her struggles are unexpectedly found to be in common with that of a demigoddess named Punguari (voiced by Paulina Chávez from the Netfilx series “The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia”). Unbeknownst to Ronnie Anne, Punguari can cause an apocalypse with her angst, and that apocalypse causes enormous peril for Ronnie Anne, whose family bands together to help prevent it . . . and also to formally recognize that Ronnie Anne is becoming an individual while also recognizing the responsibilities her mother has as a parent.
The adventure element is genuinely suspenseful, worthy, most obviously, of Indiana Jones. The film is also packed with some funny moments and some funny lines. Carl, probably my favorite of the extended Casagrandes, enters the climactic battle by saying “we’ve been waiting the whole movie for this!”. And Sid Chang did well with her presence, and I love her lament on “extreme” skating rinks and how quickly they wear out their novelty value. At the end of the movie, she remarks that “once you’ve fractured your skull a few times, [Extreme Eddie’s] loses all sense of adventure.” Fortunately, the movie never does.
If you love “The Casagrandes”, you will love this picture. If you are not even the most regular viewer of it in the world, you will still love this picture, and all the heart, soul, wonderment, and fascination that come with it.
IN CONCLUSION
Familia fun
★★★★
“THE CASAGRANDES MOVIE”
Directed by Miguel Puga, produced by Michael Rubiner, written by Tony Gama-Lobo, Rebecca May, Lalo Alcaraz and Rosemary Contreras, music scored by Marcelo Treviño, edited by Jhoanne Reyes, a Nickelodeon release through Netflix, which can be screened for free with a subscription to the Netflix streaming service. This picture has been rated PG by the Motion Picture Association.
THE VOICES
Ronnie Anne . . . . . . . . . . Izabella Alvarez
Maria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sumalee Montano
Rosa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sonia Manzano
Carl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Alex Cazares
Bobby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carlos PenaVega
Carlota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alexa PenaVega
Carlos and Sergio . . . . . .Carlos Alazraqui
Hector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ruben Garfias
Frida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Roxana Ortega
C.J. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jared Kozak
Carlitos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cristina Milizia
Lalo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dee Bradley Baker
Sid Chang . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leah Mei Gold
Punguari . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paulina Chávez
Lupe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Angélica Aragón
Sisiki . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kate del Castillo
Paco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sergio Aragonés
Chipiri . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cristo Fernández
Felipe . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jorge R. Gutierrez
