Review: And your mom too (2001)

Directed by: Alfonso Cuarón | 105 minutes | drama | Actors: Maribel Verdú, Gael Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna, Diana Bracho, Andrés Almeida, Juan Carlos Remolina

“Y tu mamá también” (“And your mother too”) is an unabashed, fresh Mexican film, driven by the Latin passion we know from the work of Pedro Almodóvar. The lively, spontaneous acting style of the three main characters clashes here and there with the sometimes somewhat forced lyrics they get put in their mouths, especially when it comes to sex, but the film gets away with it for the reasons mentioned: light-hearted, fresh and energetic.

Yet “Y tu mamá también” deserves more, because it deals with questions that are important to every person in intimate relationships, brought with the necessary humor and a good portion of sizzling sex. The film also gains the necessary weight to remain in memory as it progresses.
Because the tragedy is kept for the end and the conversations between the three main characters who carry the film are mainly about the free, untethered life, the work is light-hearted enough to hold the attention of a young audience for an hour and a half. Luisa’s behavior, who likes to experiment, forces Julio and Tenoch – two superficial stallions at first sight – to think about their mutual friendship during the trip, with dire consequences. “Y tu mamá también” also offers a nice insight into the life of modern young people in Mexico, which is mainly known to us as a banana republic. With here and there a critical note about corrupt politicians, but especially with a lot of love for their own culture. It is therefore extremely suitable for the cinema visitor. With enthusiastic performances by Gael Garcia Bernal (“Amores Perros”) and heartthrob Diego Luna, who got to work in Hollywood after this film, in “Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights” and “The Terminal”. Director Alfonso Cuarón broke through with the beautifully shot Dickens film adaptation “Great Expectations” (1998) and especially with “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” (2004).