Rudo y Cursi

2009

Rudo y Cursi

Critics Consensus

Despite its fair share of sports movie cliches, Rudo y Cursi marks an auspicious directing debut for Carlos Cuarón, and features strong performances from García Bernal and Luna.

73%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 112

66%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 19,405

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Movie Info

Beto and Tato are a pair of rivaling, dim-witted brothers who work on a dusty banana ranch and play soccer for their local team. Beto, a goalie whose hot temper on the field earns him the nickname of Rudo, dreams of becoming a professional soccer player, while Tato wants to be a famous singer. They both share the dream of building a big house for their mother, Elvira, but all of their desires seem completely out of reach, that is, until a talent scout, Batuta, discovers their skill on the field. To Beto's chagrin, it is Tato, whose curlicue field play earns him the nickname of Cursi, who is chosen to become a star player. Not to be bested, Beto scores a goalie position on a rival team, further intensifying the competition between them. But success makes the brothers confront their own personal demons and sets them on a chase for more than just soccer balls. Cuaron keeps the energy high and the laughter rolling even as he crafts a moral into the story. But even if the dueling brothers do find a way out of the banana ranch, will the banana ranch ever find a way out of them?

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Cast

Gael García Bernal
as Tato 'El Cursi' (Corny) Verdusco
Diego Luna
as Beto 'El Rudo' (Tough) Verdusco
Guillermo Francella
as Batuta
Dolores Heredia
as Elvira
Adriana Paz
as Toña
Jessica Mas
as Maya
Salvador Zerboni
as Jorge W
Alfredo Alfonso
as Don Casimiro
Tania Esmeralda Aguilar
as Nadia
Joaquín Cosio
as Arnulfo
Fermín Martínez
as DT Obdulio
Eduardo Von
as TD Bruno López
Axel Ricco
as Mena
Harold Torres
as Trompo Tovar
Gabino Rodríguez
as Mafafo
Alexander Da Silva
as Gringa Roldán
Armando Hernandez
as Ciempíes
Alexandré Barceló
as Fito
Jorge Mondragon
as Porro
Enoc Leaño
as Referee
José Carlos Rodríguez
as TD Merodio
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Critic Reviews for Rudo y Cursi

All Critics (112) | Top Critics (37)

  • Hilarious, satirical and melancholy, "Rudo y Cursi" may not go as deep as "Y Tu Mamá También," but it has a similar vivacity.

    Feb 6, 2018 | Full Review…

    David Ansen

    Newsweek
    Top Critic

  • Apparently it's a hit in Mexico, which shows a remarkably generous sense of humour, given that Cuaron leaves no one standing. It's a funny movie but quite brutal.

    Jul 31, 2009 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review…

    Paul Byrnes

    Sydney Morning Herald
    Top Critic

  • A film that can't quite choose between the light and dark possibilities it conjures.

    Jul 31, 2009 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Philippa Hawker

    The Age (Australia)
    Top Critic

  • He's helped by charismatic, pleasingly ambivalent performances by all involved, and while a later penalty sequence is needlessly prolonged, it doesn't diminish the film's cumulative effect. Serious fun.

    Jul 3, 2009 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Geoff Andrew

    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • This is a movie enlivened by the two stars' goofy love-hate relationship, its all-pervasive cynicism and the film-maker's mischievous decision to keep his eye off the ball.

    Jul 3, 2009 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Tom Charity

    Times (UK)
    Top Critic

  • It's a tale of two humble Mexican boys filmed with rough-around-the-edges production values and lots of energy, whose appeal will stretch to footie fans who wouldn't normally park themselves in front of a subtitled film.

    Jul 3, 2009 | Rating: 3/5

    Laura Bushell

    Little White Lies
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (112)

Audience Reviews for Rudo y Cursi

  • Jan 16, 2011
    The director that brought us Y Tu Mamá También (2001).A film soccer fans will love. Gael Garcia's and Diego Luna have such a strong chemistry. A story of two brothers (goalie and striker )that both want to become soccer stars. The story is simple two brothers play soccer in a small village. A talent agent then gets them to play soccer professionally. All things are going great they got out of poverty and have the luxury of the good life ie cars, money, big house, good looking girl ect. But happiness can't last forever. Rudo has a gambling problem and Cursi can't become a musician. The movie is funny and lighthearted and tells us that we should really know what we are getting ourselves into before it's to late. This movie plays it safe and simple the film does feel a bit predictable when watching it. Tho that shouldn't make you stop watching the film. I have an older brother and we both love soccer so I love this film because I can relate to it. Saying this the movie is good it isn't Carlos Cuarón best work but it's still good.
    Ricardo G Super Reviewer
  • Jul 24, 2010
    In "Rudo Y Cursi," Tato(Gael Garcia Bernal) and Beto(Diego Luna) are half brothers who work on a banana plantation and love to play soccer in their free time. While Beto is the responsible manager with a wife(Adriana Paz) and kids, Tato dreams of becoming a musician and possibly going north to Texas. One day on the way to a friendly soccer game, they encounter Baton(Guillermo Francella), a soccer scout, whose flashy red sports car has broken down. After watching the game and being duly impressed, he claims he can only take one brother with him back to Mexico City. Tato wins on a penalty kick with a bit of guile. Once he is settled on a team, he finds a place for his brother on a second division club. "Rudo Y Cursi" is an engaging enough movie that suffers from a lack of credulity in its story arc with the brothers having little trouble in their rise to fame and the tone is more fatuous than serious, with little new insight on the nature of fame. Compare this movie to the low key "Sugar" for instance. Some of the issues in "Rudo Y Cursi" may stem from Baton's narration, embellishing certain events while deleting other details, at the same time not forgetting his role in corruption. And there is an interesting twist on the big game. In the end, the movie, like the recent World Cup, just goes to prove that some people take soccer way too seriously.
    Walter M Super Reviewer
  • May 19, 2010
    Carlos tries to imitate the style of his brother. He creates a very rural environment and for that, I must highlight it, including our insatiable passion towards soccer. The parody version of "I Want You to Want Me" by Cheap Trick is the memorable element of iconic value in this comedy, but for the rest, there is nothing else but the typical from-mr.-nobody-to-famous-rivalry topic . Yes, the Bernal-Luna duo are back but for what matters, this is a movie not to be taken seriously, and we ask the Mexican filmmakers: How many more not-to-be-taken-seriously movies are you planning to release yet?? Haven't we had enough? 56/100
    Edgar C Super Reviewer
  • Apr 03, 2010
    gael garcia bernal and diego luna finally get together after 2001s y tu mama tambien, here playing two brothers, getting noticed around the same time for the big time, from there we see the up and downs of both there careers, one having a up the one minute and fortunes reversing, the next, a entertaining film, that deals with brothers in competition, and the world of football, the two guys are a great presence, and always watchable, the story never predictable, and two fortunes are on show, another great adition to mexican film.
    scott g Super Reviewer
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