The Shrimp on the Barbie (1990)
Carlos has failed in show-biz and currently works as a waiter in a Mexican restaurant. There he meets Alex and dumb footballer Bruce celebrating their engagement with her parents. Alex' father is less than thrilled of her fiancée and says he'd rather accept anybody else. Eventually Alex hires Carlos to present him as her new fiancée.
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Excellent but underrated film
If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.
If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.
Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.
What I liked about the film is the life lessons that Carlos (Cheech Marin) supplies in this film. Spoilers Ahead: The first is when he promises a free meal to a customer who turns out to be Australia's top food critic, which led to a rave review, based of course, on superior customer service. The next one is when he takes a beating from Alex's (Emma Samms) fiancée Bruce (Vernon Wells), after he catches him shacked up with Alex's best friend Dominique (Carole Davis (who is just as nasty in this film as she was in "Mannequin" & "if Looks Could Kill" (I remember her and the scorpion in that one)), and he still keeps his mouth shut. The final lesson of course, is how Carlos was able to not only survive in a foreign country, but win a women who is far above his social scale with decency. One other standout scene, is with Alex and the home movies where she exposes Bruce and Dominique to all of their friends (Including hitting her with a wedding cake). It is a funny film.
Much better than most of the original movies Cheech Marin was in. This one has heart and sensitivity, with a little comedy thrown in. Love the "very rich" father. One of the better movies Cheech Marin has been in. I enjoy watching it more than once. Another real feel-good movie. The kind with a happy ending, whether it is reality or not.
I cannot think of one redeeming feature about this movie. The acting is wooden, the script unbelievably bad!! If there is a redeeming feature it is the scenery from many shots taken around New Zealand and the brief appearance of some rarely seen New Zealand artists.If you have a choice between a dentist appointment and watching this film, take the drill every time, even if it means a root canal!!!
This movie shouldn't be taken so seriously. If you're a fan of Cheech Marin, you'll appreciate this film as an excellent example of his acting ability and it showcases his range from "Cheech & Chong" to "Nash Bridges".Cheech comes off as the typical hispanic role he's played in all the Cheech & Chong movies, but also displays a "I'm not as dumb as you think" side that he shows on Nash Bridges.The story line is basically his character goes to Australia for work where by chance while working in a Mexican restaurant he meets the daughter of a rich man. She in turn wanting her father to like her current boyfriend, hires Cheech for $5,000 to be her "new" boyfriend that by comparison makes the former boyfriend an excellent choice.Both Alex (the daughter) and Carlos (Cheech Marin) learn alot about the lifestyles of each other.This movie is pretty predictable but can be fun at the same time. You will love Cheech singing "Land of 1000 Dances" to all the socialites.This movie tried to capitalize on all the "down under" crazes that emerged in the late '80s and early '90s.Just watch it, don't judge it, and it can be a fun movie. You have to appreciate Cheech Marin carrying a cast of "nobodies" on a lame script through a movie that can and will make you laugh out loud at times. And for the romantic, it has a heart warming ending.