MovieChat Forums > Casa de mi padre (2012) Discussion > White Hollywood

White Hollywood

posted 12 years ago by ValianceInEnd
121 replies | jump to latest

I find it interesting that Hollywood would make a Spanish-language comedy with a predominately Hispanic cast, only to cast the lead role as a recognizable white Male. Ferrel's character is named Armando Alvarez, a very Hispanic name. It seems they can't take a risk like this without casting someone to get white people in the theaters as well as the Hispanic market. Is this a part of existing social prejudice that they need to market such a film in this way? Or are they simply racist?

[–] animatestate 12 years ago

Armando Alvarez could be a white man's name. Hispanic isn't just for brown-skinned folks.

[–] exciterRC 12 years ago

The whole point is, it's Will Ferrell.

[–] dannyvazmon1 12 years ago

That's the whole point of the movie. Take away Will Ferrel talking Spanish (and only in Spanish), and you have a straight to DVD- 5 dollar bin movie.

[–] wjbates3 12 years ago

Wait!!!

Will Ferell is not Mexican!!??

Thats shocking!!

[–] solitary_demon 12 years ago

FUNNY Louis C.K. is a white Mexican, but no one cares. Watch his last stand up in the Beacon Theater in New York City. He makes fun of everybody and insults all races (poor Jews) and no one cares because he is a white Man (yeah Spanish white doesn't matter ask Cameron Diaz, or Christina Aguilera, or Linda Carter [Wonder Woman], or Joaquin Phoenix [spanish name, duh!] Emilio Estevez, Charlie and Martin Sheen... the list goes on and on.) So American aren't as racist as they think, well they are when the skin isn't "white or fair" lol
"Castiel: Destiny can't be changed, Dean. All roads lead to the same."

[–] eljeffe203 12 years ago

I agree with the OP. I saw Memoirs of a Geisha and thought "WHY are they casting Korean and Chinese actresses in a movie that's CLEARLY Japanese??"

Or in Ninja Assassin?? Rain is NOT from Japan!

And Chris Farley was clearly NOT a ninja!!

And Denzel Washington had NO RIGHT speaking Spanish in Man on Fire!!!

------- /sarcasm

As many have said, the schtick is that Will is clearly not Hispanic or whatever the PC term is nowadays. It's a running joke. Go with it, or don't see the movie.

[–] losewithmolly 12 years ago

EVERYONE HERE IS STUPID! Know why? Because ValianceInEnd is clearly a troll...

Yours in Christ,
~Molly~
www.hcdoxies.com

"Elephants are not purple. This is wrong."

[–] roycant07 12 years ago

In Mexico, the joke would be that he is GRINGO, not because he is white. There are a ton of white Mexican actors. Just watch the soaps on your local Spanish channel.

Americans arrogantly or possibly ignorantly think that they're the only white people around.

In Latin America, a white person like Will Farrell is common to see on TV.

[–] marimar-mm 12 years ago

Thank you.

Obviously Will Ferrell is not Mexican. But he could obviously pass for Mexican and he looks great in botas.

Cannot wait to see this movie!

Will
Diego
Gael...

One *beep* great movie!

RIP. Pedro Armendariz Jr.

[–] Kantos_Kan 12 years ago

Couple things. I am blown at the absolute stupidity of some of the posts on here. This is CLEARLY meant to have a clearly white American(non hispanic) in the lead role. It's a flipping spoof for God's sake!! But beyond that, Hispanic is NOT a freaking race nor is Mexican for that matter. People from Spain are Hispanic but many of them actually look like Will Ferrell believe it or not. The stupidity is astounding.

[–] bradme 12 years ago

About the Cheech & Chong comment, those movies were made on extremely low budgets. It just like how Tyler Perry keeps making films, he makes microbudget films so they're surefire to profit. However, look up the issues George Lucas had getting Red Tails made.

[–] Hancockenstein 12 years ago

wow, I didn't even realize those 2 were in the movie also. will watch it sooner than later

[–] LuisLEONFC 12 years ago

OP. México has white people. It makes up for 23% of the population. And what's with the Armando Alvarez name? My father is called Alvaro too and he's blonde.

And what do you mean with Hispanic?

HISPANIC IS NOT A RACE.

IT'S CULTURAL

This is a hispanic:

http://www.google.com.mx/imgres?q=aracely+arambula&num=10&um=1 &hl=es&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:es-AR :official&biw=1525&bih=741&tbm=isch&tbnid=26yTKEtIyNnK FM:&imgrefurl=http://www.durangoaldia.com/niega-aracely-arambula-p or-ahora-posar-desnuda-para-revista/2011/06/&docid=X2aYlhN6038G9M& amp;imgurl=http://www.durangoaldia.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/5267 -rumoran-romance-entre-aracely-arambula-y-david-zepeda.jpg&w=600&a mp;h=540&ei=pigXT77DGKKOsQKLnYmLAg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx= 168&vpy=281&dur=917&hovh=213&hovw=237&tx=141&t y=140&sig=112332402109296977654&sqi=2&page=1&tbnh=125& amp;tbnw=132&start=0&ndsp=43&ved=1t:429,r:32,s:0

This is a Hispanic:

http://www.google.com.mx/imgres?q=sebastian+rulli&start=24&num =10&um=1&hl=es&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.m ozilla:es-AR:official&biw=1525&bih=741&tbm=isch&tbnid= b2AXsuuC6kZ4FM:&imgrefurl=http://revistamastv.com/2010/11/sebastia n-rulli-desmiente-supuesto-divorio/&docid=Ewpt482b0EtiOM&imgur l=http://revistamastv.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Sebastian-Rulli.j pg&w=550&h=367&ei=4ygXT4SkNIaEsALul62IAg&zoom=1&ia ct=hc&vpx=810&vpy=358&dur=157&hovh=183&hovw=275&am p;tx=162&ty=122&sig=112332402109296977654&sqi=2&page=2 &tbnh=176&tbnw=235&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429,r:12,s:24

This is a Hispanic:

http://www.google.com.mx/imgres?q=kalimba&num=10&um=1&hl=e s&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:es-AR:official &biw=1525&bih=741&tbm=isch&tbnid=yfk81-Tv_5XvVM:&i mgrefurl=http://www.lamusicatop.com/tag/kalimba/&docid=0CRat5W2UD9 OGM&imgurl=http://www.lamusicatop.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/K alimba.jpg&w=300&h=400&ei=_SgXT8q-MZTIsQL99qyoAg&zoom= 1&iact=hc&vpx=181&vpy=164&dur=626&hovh=259&hov w=194&tx=102&ty=97&sig=112332402109296977654&sqi=2& ;page=1&tbnh=156&tbnw=116&start=0&ndsp=21&ved=1t:4 29,r:0,s:0

This is a Hispanic:

http://www.google.com.mx/imgres?q=vicente+fernandez&num=10&um= 1&hl=es&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:es-A R:official&biw=1525&bih=741&tbm=isch&tbnid=__tOKKxx5R3 5vM:&imgrefurl=http://www.radioamistad.com.pe/2011/08/vida-y-obras -de-vicente-fernandez/&docid=jlGWZSgzQjZzMM&imgurl=http://www. radioamistad.com.pe/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/vicente-fernandez-yh78. jpg&w=504&h=630&ei=FCkXT_2zJOuHsAKytJWKAg&zoom=1&i act=hc&vpx=189&vpy=292&dur=277&hovh=251&hovw=201&a mp;tx=95&ty=129&sig=112332402109296977654&sqi=2&page=1 &tbnh=160&tbnw=138&start=0&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:14 ,s:0

This is a Hispanic:

http://www.google.com.mx/imgres?q=pedro+armendariz+jr&num=10&u m=1&hl=es&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:es -AR:official&biw=1525&bih=741&tbm=isch&tbnid=TkHpqwCoM quU6M:&imgrefurl=http://www.rtv.org.mx/categoria/noticias/nacional es/page/4/&docid=q0h8IjwxY8KJmM&imgurl=http://www.rtv.org.mx/w p-content/uploads/2011/12/Pedro-Armendariz-Jr-1.jpg&w=900&h=63 0&ei=SykXT5bABeKGsgLMlKCBAg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=266& ;vpy=440&dur=565&hovh=188&hovw=268&tx=119&ty=119&a mp;sig=112332402109296977654&sqi=2&page=1&tbnh=122&tbn w=163&start=0&ndsp=34&ved=1t:429,r:27,s:0

This is a Hispanic:

http://www.google.com.mx/imgres?q=evo+morales&num=10&um=1&; hl=es&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:es-AR:offi cial&biw=1525&bih=741&tbm=isch&tbnid=VLGAEZTpO3h6MM:&a mp;imgrefurl=http://www.theclinic.cl/2011/03/23/evo-morales-demandara- a-chile-por-mar-ante-tribunales-internacionales/&docid=v6sSDE9-o7Z AbM&imgurl=http://www.theclinic.cl/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/EvoM orales_1383933c.jpg&w=460&h=288&ei=dykXT-TGHc_5sQLzgoSpAg& amp;zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=1198&vpy=264&dur=82&hovh=17 8&hovw=284&tx=192&ty=111&sig=112332402109296977654& ;sqi=2&page=1&tbnh=160&tbnw=222&start=0&ndsp=22&am p;ved=1t:429,r:14,s:0

As you can see, Hispanics come in many colors.

[–] lobbyistdantelynch 12 years ago

characterizing the lead as "white" and "non-hispanic" doesn't really mean much. hispanic is a geolinguistic identity, not a race. in fact, the largest demographic group of spanish speakers is actually white. it's crazy how little americans know about their very immediate neighbors.

[–] excalibur1814 12 years ago

"to get white people in the theaters"

How racist can you be? I don't and won't complain if a film features mainly white, black, asian or heck even Alien.

[–] Hancockenstein 12 years ago

seriously sometimes I think I travelled back to the 1950s or none of these people ever leave their houses.

[–] raiderking69 12 years ago

Stupid person! It is a Will Ferrel satire on the horrid, 2nd rate movies that come out of Mexico. Like 'I'm gonna get you sucka' was a satire on the blaxploitation flicks of the 70s. And 'Tropic Thunder' was a satire on the 80s action flicks. How in the Hell did you ever learn to use a computer, without excercising your Synaptic Arcs? Dumb racist.

[–] Kantos_Kan 12 years ago

raiderking - Pure Awesome Post.