Y Tu Mama Tambien (UK)

The review if for the local Israeli region 2 version (which lacks most of the extras and the widescreen transfer of the UK region 2 version), however, this is the unrated version.
I never heard of this movie prior to getting it from a friend. I was told it`s a "sexy comedy".
Well, the term "sexy" sure got stretched. How this movie got a "15 years old and older" rating is beyond me. It includes quite a few extremely explicit sex scenes and drug usage.
The story is basically simple - 2 (horny) guys take a girl (who`s the wife of one of the guys` cousin) to a magical beach they told her exists somewhere in Mexico. The plot revolves around the 3 and how they loose their innocence during their trip.
The video transfer of this local region 2 version is a butchered fullscreen one. Compression signs can be spotted occasionally and the picture isn`t too sharp. While some scenes include beautiful landscapes, the lack of a widescreen transfer ruins the experience a bit.
The DD 5.1 soundtrack is very flat. There is no usage of the surrounds at all. The Spanish soundtrack was the only one available on the disc.
The menus are animated with sound.
The extras include a short behind the scenes featurette with interviews of the director and the lead actor, who claims the movie portrays the true hidden nature of Mexico, that`s been purposely hidden from outsiders for years. God almighty.
Bottom line - an ordinary teen drama which is definitely not for teenagers. A better transfer and sound mix would`ve made the disc a lot better.

Most of this Mexican film is a road trip with two teenagers and a woman in her 20s. Much of the trip is discussion of sex and some minor sexual adventures. On a deeper level this film is really about the uses of sex in relationships. There is more going on than meets the eye and when all is revealed the viewer will certainly think back over what has been said.

The film becomes a road picture for most of its length as the trio travel the interior of Mexico. They see the poverty and the crime in Mexico`s back country. But most of what is on the boys` minds is sex. As they travel Tenoch and Julio whisper to each other little sexual thoughts, mostly about their girlfriends. But Luisa is inquisitive and soon the three are talking openly about sex. They start revealing secrets and each talks about their sex lives. The boys even do a little spying on Luisa, which she seems not to mind. Luisa is suffering great pain when alone and does a little flirting with the boys. She seems anxious to share her wisdom of about ten more years of age with the boys. Not everything she is doing or why will be obvious until the final scenes of the film and perhaps not even then.

"Y Tu Mama Tambien" is a coming of age film that connects with powerful truths that few films dare to approach. The movie is, in many ways, about nothing. It is also about everything. "Y Tu Mama Tambien" is filled with explicit sex scenes, raw dialogue and many servings of harsh reality.

Cuaron gives the film a light and frivolous feel as if it is a throwaway. It appears to be almost a teenage sex comedy. That is because the Cuarons know something about their characters that the audience does not. Puzzle pieces that the viewer did not realize were puzzle pieces that fall into place at the end, turning the film from light to bittersweet.

Tenoch and Julio were happier and more fun in the beginning of the film. Loss of youth is always a great tragedy in life. It`s also the stuff of great film. Following the dazzling "Amores Perros," "Y Tu Mama Tambien" is another striking example of the impressive quality of new Mexican film. Viva Mexico!