Chupa movie review

MOVIE TITLE: Chupa

This family-friendly adventure movie is now playing on Netflix.

RATING: PG

LENGTH: 1 hour 35 minutes

MOVIE REVIEW MOM GRADE: B

IN A NUTSHELL:

While visiting family in Mexico, teenage Alex gains an unlikely companion when he discovers a young chupacabra hiding in his grandpa’s shed. To save the mythical creature, Alex and his cousins must work together with their grandfather who was a famous Lucha Libre fighter.

The cute movie was directed by Jonas Cuaron Elizondo, who is the son of the Academy Award winner, Alfonso Cuaron! Writers were Sean Kennedy Moore, Joe Barnathan, and Marcus Rinehart.

THINGS I LIKED:

While the story steals heavily from movies like ET, it’s still extremely adorable and perfect viewing for all ages.
The CGI animals are pretty doggone cute.
The cast includes adult and young Mexican actors I had never seen before. The one face that will definitely be recognizable to many viewers is American actor Christian Slater. It’s good to see him in something again.
I thought it was cute to mix in a little fun, Mexican culture like luchadors and certain foods like chorizo, and brain tacos (sesos de vaca.) Yes, Mexicans really do put cow brains in tacos! I was an exchange student in Mexico back in high school when I first discovered that. My Mexican family ordered one for me from a street vendor and wouldn’t tell me what was in the taco until I tasted it. I readily admit I liked it more before I knew what it was. EESH!
The musical score is fun and magical.
The movie does a great job illustrating how lonely it can feel to be an outsider. Isn’t it a shame that kids and teens are so quick to dismiss others who are unusual, rather than realize that they’re often the most interesting?

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

The title is controversial because it means something “indelicate” in both Spanish and Tagalog.
The “villain” is pretty hollow.
It’s yet one more movie where Americans are greedy and want to make a buck off of nature and animals.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Talk of the death of a father
A lot of Spanish is spoken with subtitles.
An underage kid drives a car.
Some “light” profanity in English and Spanish
People in perilous sitations
Some violence

THEMES:

Mourning
Family
Lucha Libre
Animal cruelty
Aging and dementia
Secrets
Mexican culture
Identity
Friendship
Self-confidence
Embracing your heritage

FUNNY LINES:

“It’s time you learn the beauty of the suplex!” – Abuelo/Chava (Demian Bichir)
“Ay, primo.” (“Oh, cousin.”) – Memo (Nickolas Verdugo)
“A luchador never goes anywhere without his cape.” – Abuelo/Chava (Demian Bichir)
“Azul!” – Abuelo/Chava (Demian Bichir)

INTERESTING LINES:

“Always be proud of who you are. Don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise.” – Abuelo/Chava (Demian Bichir)
“If you get lost, your family will find you.” – Alex (Evan Whitten)