Real Cancun Review
by Steve Rhodes (Steve DOT Rhodes AT InternetReviews DOT com)April 29th, 2003
THE REAL CANCUN
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2003 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): ***
THE REAL CANCUN, which plays like a Playboy video cleaned up a bit in order to be able to show it on late night MTV, is directed by Rick de Oliveira, whose only other picture, you won't be surprised to learn, was the direct-to-video WHO WANTS TO BE A PLAYBOY CENTERFOLD? A documentary about spring break, THE REAL CANCUN has two themes -- booze and boobs. But, besides being a guilty pleasure for most of us who never actually went on spring break, it is periodically a fairly insightful film about young adult mores. For parents of kids in college, however, it'll probably be a horror movie. (Some of the kids in the picture are in college but many aren't.)
"Cancun, baby, who's comin' with me?" Jorell, one of the sixteen kids off to Mexico on vacation, asks rhetorically in the film's opening. Based on its disappointing opening weekend box office, not nearly as many as New Line would have hoped.
It order to cut quickly to the chase, we see bare boobs in one of the first scenes. "Hey, Dude, are we gonna get naked or what?" Casey, a surfer stoner asks.
The girls like to ask each other such penetrating questions as, "Will you screw everyone?" Actually there are a few virgins in the group, who surprised one another when they admit it.
Biggest surprise to the kids? One guy, Alan, doesn't drink, ever. They'll soon "fix" that "problem." Alan, however, has more than alcohol on his mind. He keeps repeating what should be the film's tag line -- "I just wanna see some boobies!"
There is lots of handsomely filmed girl-on-girl action, but the heterosexual sex is shot in extremely grainy black and white with the people under very opaque blankets. This is an unnecessary tease in a film rated R. Carefully cast, the movie even includes every guy's fantasy -- beautiful, identical female twins.
The film also works as social commentary. "There's no such thing as 'too drunk,'" a very inebriated Nicole says quite seriously to an equally drunk Alan. In the last act, the kids begin to confess some honest feelings with a bit more insight. If you want to know the truth about the habits and beliefs of many young adults, the film tells it like it is.
Featuring almost all fat-free bodies, hot music, energetic editing and handsome cinematography, it's a movie that's easy to watch. And there are even hot butt contests for males to match the mainly T-shirtless wet T-shirt contests for the females.
"I Don't Want To Be Told To Grow Up," sings a group whose lead singer wears a "Role Model" T-shirt. The song could be this hedonistic group's theme song. The kids all want to be sexually active Peter Pans and never grow up. Grown-up adults who are honest with themselves will find themselves yearning to relive their youth. Most critics will, of course, feel obligated by the laws of political correctness to condemn the movie without ever bothering to open their eyes. They will not need to actually see the move to write their reviews, since they already know what they think about it. Go in with an open mind, and you may well find it both fascinating and enjoyable.
THE REAL CANCUN runs 1:30. It is rated R for "strong sexuality/nudity, language and partying" and would be acceptable for older teenagers.
The film is playing in nationwide release now in the United States. In the Silicon Valley, it is showing at the AMC and the Century theaters.
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