Common Sense Note
Parents should know two of the three daughters in TORTILLA SOUP sleep with men they are not married to; one even continues a sexual relationship with a man who used to be her boyfriend and is now just a friend with "fringe benefits." Otherwise, the film is fairly innocuous and tame.
Families who see this movie might talk about food movies, such as Babette's Feast, Big Night, or Eat Drink Man Woman, the original version of this film. Can you think of other movies that feature food as a major element? What makes these movies fun? What does the food -- and its preparation -- symbolize in this movie?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Joyce Slayton
The first time around, TORTILLA SOUP was Eat Drink Man Woman, Ang Lee's Chinese-language 1994 art-house hit. This American remake cribbed Eat Drink's characters and storyline, but instead of focusing on a traditional Taiwanese family in Taipei, TORTILLA SOUP centers on a Mexican-American family in L.A.
Martin Naranjo (Hector Elizondo) is a widower, the former chef-owner of a gourmet restaurant, and father to three willful daughters. Leticia (Elizabeth Pena), a prim and proper teacher with the hots for a new coach at school, Carmen (Jacqueline Obradors), a high-powered career woman on the verge of moving out, and Maribel (Tamara Mello), who has decided to put off college while she "finds herself." Meanwhile, a close family friend brings her pushy Mom, Hortensia (Raquel Welch) for a visit in which she instantly develops eyes for Martin.
Each week, while the family vents its problems, Martin fills the Sunday dinner table with sumptuous delights. As in Eat Drink Man Woman, the lovingly photographed shots of food in TORTILLA SOUP are its best feature. Watching Martin pound chiles with a mortar and pestle, peel avocados, and fry up squash blossoms for soup could have made for a magnificent film on its own. Unfortunately, the directors chose to instead, load the film with melodramatic twists and predictable, unconvincing dialogue. However, TORTILLA SOUP's a decent-enough film for rabid foodies, fanatical lovers of gentle family comedies, and families looking for something sweet and gentle to watch together.
Families who enjoy TORTILLA SOUP may enjoy other families-at-the-dinner-table comedies like Eat Drink Man Woman or Soul Food, or other movies with a focus on food, such as Big Night or Mostly Martha.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentThere are several sexually suggestive scenes, including one in which a man and woman break a chair with enthusiastic lovemaking. |
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Social BehaviorThe young women of the family take sex lightly; a few incidents of casual sex may offend more conservative parents. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoCharacters are shown drinking socially. |
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