After it's first week playing in Mexico, "Y Tu Mamá También" broke Mexican box office records. It was the biggest opening ever for a Mexican film, grossing $2.2 million in its first week. I'm not sure how it'll do in the U.S., but it has one thing going for it that'll definitely sell tickets: Sex. Lots of it. There's lots of sex, and plenty of nudity (though unfortunately, a lot of it is male nudity... penises flop around a lot in this movie). But this movie isn't just about sex (though you wouldn't know that if you see the commercials on MTV). It mostly has to do with growing pains. Sure, there are the obvious growing pains with the two teenage male characters, but there's also the growing pains of the older woman who joins them in their road trip. Even the country of Mexico itself has some growing pains throughout this movie. "Y Tu Mamá También" works on several layers, and it does so seamlessly.
I heard this movie referred to as a Mexican version of "American Pie," but that's a horrible description. I love "American Pie," but the movies really are completely different. "American Pie" is a coming of age comedy that has several major gags that make the movie what it is. In "Y Tu Mamá También," there are several moments that might make members of the audience blush, but they're not there merely as gags. Sure, some of it is gross and funny (there's a scene with masturbation and diving boards that is the perfect example), but it's just the way these characters are. They're little pervs, with hormones ruling their lives. They love sex and weed, and they think farts are funny. Typical teenagers. The older woman comes along, and she seems fascinated by their immaturity. The boys are no less vulgar around her, and eventually, she takes part in their vulgar conversations, and trust me, the conversations are vulgar. It's brilliant stuff, and very funny, but it may offend some people. There's a LOT in this movie that may offend people.
One of the biggest reasons this movie works so well is that the performances by the three leads are outstanding. Maribel Verdú (she was in "Belle Epoque") plays "Luisa," the older woman (she's only 28 in the movie, but compared to the teenage boys, she's older, especially when it comes to maturity). She's great in this movie, having to display every emotion in the book, and keep some emotions hidden. Her performance is awesome. Gael García Bernal (who was in the great movie "Amores Perros") plays "Julio." He's very good, too, and probably the funniest of the three. He seemed to have the best lines, and the best facial expressions. Then there's Diego Luna (he was in "Before Night Falls") as "Tenoch," and he's also really good. Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal, who play the teenage friends, are actually friends in real life. They met while working on the Mexican soap opera "El Abuelo Y Yo" when they were 12, and they've been friends ever since.
"Y Tu Mamá También" was directed by Alfonso Cuarón. His feature film debut was the popular Mexican film, "Sólo Con Tu Pareja" (Daniel Giménez Cacho starred in that film, and he was the narrator of this one). After that, Cuarón directed two American films, a really good movie called "A Little Princess," and the surprisingly enjoyable update on the Charles Dickens classic, "Great Expectations" starring Ethan Hawke and Gwyneth Paltrow. I like him a lot as a director, and in this movie, he makes good use of long uncut shots that go on for several minutes. The script was written by the director, as well as his brother, Carlos Cuarón. This is Alfonso Cuarón's debut as a writer, but Carlos wrote his brother's directorial debut, "Sólo Con Tu Pareja." I might have to see that movie.
This movie is a tad too long, and there are times when it drags on, but for the most part, this is a very entertaining movie with some eye-opening sex scenes that are sure to make you either smile or run to the exits (I'm referring to all the puritanical prudes out there). It really is more than just a movie with a lotta sex, though. It's just that in order for me to really appreciate all the serious stuff around it, I might have to see it again. Sorry, but the sex was really distracting. Distracting in a good way, though.
Scale of 1-10: 8