Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that a central character dies in this movie, although the death occurs off-screen. Also, there are several scenes involving violence, drunkenness, and/or drug use. While Ritchie's courting of Donna is innocent and sweet, his brother is quite the opposite with women. He's violent and a scene implies that he forces sex on his girlfriend. Both that and Ritchie's recurring (and prophetic) dreams of a plane crash will be disturbing to sensitive and younger viewers.
Families can talk about the dynamics of Ritchie's family: What are the positive and negative aspects of their interactions and what is the distinction between the two brothers? How does the movie portray Mexican-Americans in 1950s California? Why does Ritchie change his name to something less "ethnic"? How accurate is the movie's portrayal of Ritchie?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Teresa Talerico
LA BAMBA, the biopic about singer Ritchie Valens, feels like rock 'n' roll in the fabulous '50s: fresh, young, exciting, sentimental, a little bit dangerous, but irresistibly infectious.
Lou Diamond Phillips, with his wide-eyed energy and boyish charm, is endearing as the Mexican-American performer whose time in the spotlight was tragically brief. The movie also depicts an intense but loving relationship between two brothers.
Richard Valenzuela -- he later changed his name at a producer's behest -- lives with his younger siblings and widowed mother, Connie (Rosanna DeSoto), in a California migrant-labor camp. Then the family reunites with Ritchie's bad-boy half-brother Bob (Esai Morales). Fresh out of prison, he rumbles in on his motorcycle, stirring up dust and trouble. The plot establishes a stark contrast between the brothers: Ritchie is the dutiful good son; Bob, the law-breaking ne'er-do-well.
The family eventually settles in Pacoima, where Ritchie attends high school, plays in a band, develops a local following, and dreams of fame. He also falls in love with Donna, who would serve as muse for one of his most memorable songs. Donna's parents disapprove of her relationship with a Latino from the other side of the tracks.
Meanwhile, tensions increase between the brothers. Bob feels increasingly inferior and resentful of Ritchie. Even when he discovers a talent for art, his efforts are eclipsed by his brother's rising success. Ritchie is frustrated with Bob's irresponsibility and his abusive treatment of girlfriend Rosie (Elizabeth Peña). Still, the brothers have a deep bond, and the family is undeniably close.
Ritchie's mom is extremely supportive -- finding him gigs, using an ice cream truck and megaphone to hawk an upcoming show -- while Bob designs concert posters and even pinch-hits as a drummer one night. And while Bob may seem like a bad influence when he takes his brother to Mexico for a tequila-drenched night of partying, he also introduces Ritchie to a curandero, or folk healer, who gives Ritchie a talisman necklace. The scene has a mystical, transformative feel, and Ritchie returns home with a newfound strength, although he still struggles with an ominous flying phobia due to a childhood friend's untimely death.
When a record producer (Joe Pantoliano) discovers Ritchie playing at a teen dance, that fateful meeting leads to several hit recordings, including "Come on, Let's Go" and "La Bamba," as well as tours and an appearance on American Bandstand. The film also features the 1959 Winter Dance Party, where Ritchie performs with Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper. On that same tour Ritchie's flying dreams take on a new meaning.
The concert sequences are fun and energetic, and Phillips commands the stage in these scenes. Valens' music and vocals are provided by Los Lobos, who also makes an appearance as a Tijuana dance-hall band. Rock musicians Marshall Crenshaw and Brian Setzer also have cameos as Holly and Eddie Cochran.
Families who liked this movie might also enjoy other high-quality music biopics such as Selena, Ray, or Walk the Line.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentA couple passionately makes out; they are still wearing most of their clothing and are shown from the chest up when they appear to start having sex. Teens kiss and "neck." A character remarks about his girlfriend, "I almost have to rape her just to have sex." The same character takes his younger brother to Tijuana to get him "laid." Prostitutes at a brothel/dance hall line up to be chosen. |
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ViolenceOne character in particular has violent, alcohol-fueled flare-ups that include fistfights and brawls with men and violence against his girlfriend -- verbal, physical, and sexual (a rape is implied by not shown). A character has a recurring and increasingly graphic nightmare in which two planes crash in the sky and the fiery wreckage rains down on children in a schoolyard. A main character dies in a plane crash, which takes place off-screen and is handled by radio reports. A folk healer is shown stripping a dead rattlesnake in half. |
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LanguageProfanity throughout, including "f--k" and "s--t." |
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Social BehaviorStaying true to one's dreams; family loyalty. When a producer asks Ritchie what's more important -- his friends or his music -- Ritchie replies, "My family." Characters are generally good, supportive, and caring people. One character is a violent, alcoholic ex-con who struggles with his behavior throughout the film but appears to be cleaning up his act in the end. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoCharacters are shown drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and/or smoking pot. One character sells a friend some marijuana; the kilos are shown taped to his torso under his shirt. The same character often becomes drunk and violent. A character wakes up with a hangover. |
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