Born in East L.A.

Written and directed by Cheech Marin, Born in East L.A. follows Marin’s Rudy as he’s accidentally deported to Mexico and, because he doesn’t have his wallet on him, is unable to return back home – with the episodic narrative detailing Rudy’s various attempts at crossing the border. There’s ultimately not a whole lot within Born in East L.A. that’s worth wholeheartedly embracing, as filmmaker Marin has infused the proceedings with a slapdash, mostly underwhelming feel that does tend to hold the viewer at arms length – with the less-than-captivating atmosphere compounded by a dearth of laughs (ie most of the jokes and gags provoke little other than a pointed eye roll). Marin’s affable work, at least, ensures that Born in East L.A. never quite becomes the colossal bore one might’ve feared, and the filmmaker, likewise, does manage to elicit decent work from a seriously eclectic cast – with Daniel Stern’s turn as a sleazy club owner certainly an obvious highlight. The inclusion of an appealingly romantic subplot ensures that Born in East L.A. second half fares comparatively well, while the wish-fulfillment finale leaves the picture on an unexpectedly positive note – which ultimately cements the movie’s place as a mostly ineffective comedy that admittedly does have its minor pleasures.

** out of ****