I know what you’re thinking:
An entire feature film, focused solely on the creation of a snack food? Could this be anything but a 99-minute valentine to PepsiCo/Frito-Lay?
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| Judy (Annie Gonzalez), Richard (Jesse Garcia) and their elder son Lucky (Hunter Jones) watch suspensefully, as younger son Steven (Brice Gonzalez) carefully tastes the family's newest effort at an acceptably spicy Cheeto. |
Thanks to director Eva Longoria’s enthusiastic approach, Lewis Colick and Linda Yvette Chávez’s cheeky script, and an always endearing performance by star Jesse Garcia, this fast-paced, rags-to-riches saga is quite entertaining: an inspirational, modern-day Horatio Alger story come to life.
On the other hand, the film’s claim to be a “true story” — as the press notes insist —should be taken with a raised eyebrow.
To quote the oft-repeated phrase from John Ford’s The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence, “When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.” Longoria and her writers clearly embraced that notion (about which, we’ll chat more in a bit).
Richard Montañez (Garcia) narrates his life-story, in amiable conversational voice-over, from a current-day vantage point. One of a multitude of children born into a Mexican American enclave in Southern California’s unincorporated community of Guasti, he grows up surrounded by the East Los Angeles vineyards where his family and their friends toil in those fields.
He also confronts institutional racism at an early age (played here by Carlos S. Sanchez), both in grade school and elsewhere. He meets Judy (Jayde Martinez), who shares his heritage; they become “two against the world.”
Flash-forward several years. Richard (now Garcia) has joined local gang-bangers led by longtime best friend Tony (Bobby Soto). Although a life in and out of prison seems inevitable, Richard’s devotion to Judy (now played by Annie Gonzalez) — they soon have two young sons — and a compassionate judge grant one last chance.
Better still, Tony — who also has “gone straight,” with a menial job at Frito-Lay — puts in a good word. During Richard’s subsequent interview, floor manager Lonny Mason (Matt Walsh) — despite quickly spotting the young man’s fabricated résumé — reluctantly hires him as a general utility machine operator (i.e. janitor). Richard promises to show grit, determination and a never-quit, can-do spirit.
On top of which, he comes armed with the magical powers of authentic Mexican food.
The latter comes in handy when Richard seeks guidance from longtime production engineer Clarence C. Baker (Dennis Haysbert). This disgruntled company veteran initially is suspicious of the young man’s enthusiasm, having spent years training people who then were promoted over him … likely for similarly racist reasons.
