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(About Our Ads) "UNDER THE SAME MOON" (2008) (Kate del Castillo, Adrian Alonso) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Mild Minor Heavy *Mild Mild Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Moderate None Mild None Mild Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Moderate Minor Heavy Moderate Mild QUICK TAKE: Drama (Spanish/English): Following the death of his grandmother, a 9-year-old Mexican boy sets out for Los Angeles to be with his mom who he hasn't seen since she snuck across the border four years earlier in hopes of making a better life for both of them. PLOT: Carlitos Reyes (ADRIAN ALONSO) is a 9-year-old Mexican boy who lives with his ailing grandmother, Benita (ANGELINA PELÁEZ), and looks forward to every Sunday when his mom, Rosario (KATE DEL CASTILLO), calls from Los Angeles. She snuck into the U.S. with her friend Alicia (MAYA ZAPATA) four years ago in hopes of making a better life for her and Carlitos, but her absence is putting a strain on the boy. When not hanging out with his friend, Chito (ISAAC BRAVO), Carlitos spends time assisting Dona Carmen (CARMEN SALINAS), a middle-aged woman who arranges border crossings for Mexicans wishing to enter the U.S. She's so good that she turns down an offer from American siblings Marta (AMERICA FERRERA) and David (JESSE GARCIA) who want to raise tuition money by smuggling babies across the border, a point not lost on Carlitos. For when his grandmother dies in his sleep, the boy packs up his things and saved money, leaves a note regarding his intentions, and then sets out to be reunited with his mom in Los Angeles. While Rosario holds down two jobs and must contend with the friendly romantic overtures of Paco (GABRIEL PORRAS), a security guard with papers who's willing to marry her to alleviate her problem, Carlitos must contend with an array of setbacks and perils, as well as various people who help him along the way on his long and arduous journey. Chief among them is migrant worker and fellow illegal immigrant Enrique (EUGENIO DERBEZ) who initially wants nothing to do with the boy, but grows to like him. He even convinces Carlitos that he should meet the father the boy's never known, Oscar (ERNESTO D'ALESSIO). As the 9-year-old and his new friend make their way to Los Angeles in hopes of finding Rosario, little do they know she's planning on returning to Mexico to look for him. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're interested in a story about illegal immigrants and/or a boy's quest to be with his mom, they might, but it doesn't seem likely a lot of kids will be clamoring to see this. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For some mature thematic elements. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: KATE DEL CASTILLO plays a single mom who illegally entered the U.S. four years ago in hopes of making a better life for her and her son. Yet, that means she hasn't seen Carlitos in that same period, and is holding down two jobs, one of which includes a demeaning boss. She must contend with news about her mother's death and her son's journey to try to see her. At a point of desperation, she nearly weds Paco for a marriage of convenience. ADRIAN ALONSO plays her 9-year-old son who's very mature for his age, but still misses his mom and wonders why she's been gone so long and why his dad never wanted to see him. Upon his grandmother's death, he sets out on his own to try to find his mom (and thus similarly enter the country illegally) and shows smarts and courage in doing so. ANGELINA PELÁEZ plays his ailing grandmother who's been raising him for the past four years. She briefly uses profanity. GABRIEL PORRAS plays a legal immigrant and security guard who's sweet on Rosario and offers to marry her, not only due to that attraction, but also to help remedy her situation. EUGENIO DERBEZ plays an illegal immigrant and migrant worker who ends up being Carlito's impromptu and initially very reluctant caretaker. As he gets to know about the boy and his quest, he starts to care about him more. MAYA ZAPATA plays Rosario's friend who encourages her to marry Paco to solve her situation. AMERICA FERRERA and JESSE GARCIA play American siblings who want to earn tuition money for him via transporting illegal immigrants into the U.S. They agree to do just that for Carlitos, but then worry about his safety as well as the actual border crossing. CARMEN SALINAS plays a middle-aged woman who arranges illegal border crossings for her fellow native Mexicans (for a fee). She briefly smokes, and worries about Carlitos after his disappearance. ERNESTO D'ALESSIO plays Carlitos' father who's never known his son and lets him down again by not helping him get to L.A. to be with his mom. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this drama that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of at least 2 "s" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are uttered. Some innuendo is present, as are varying amounts of cleavage, while some hookers are briefly seen on the street. An INS official briefly hits an illegal immigrant with a billy club followed by some struggling, while there's other brief contact between people. A few scenes might generate some worry for some viewers, while tense family material (death of a mother/grandmother, a mother and her young son being separated for years, etc.) is also present. Various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes, there's some brief drinking, one character briefly smokes, and there's a slight and very brief suggestion that a minor character is a junkie. Various thematic elements (including those related to illegal immigration) are also present. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there are varying amounts of handheld camerawork, as well as a spin-around camera shot in the film. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE It's somewhat suggested that a man helping Carlitos is a junkie (the camera briefly focuses on the inside of his elbow and we see what may be track marks). Some illegal immigrants arrive at a woman's house for dinner, and one says a beer would go good with the food. The leader reminds him of the woman's rules about no alcohol, but in honor of a soccer game on TV, that woman brings out beer for everyone. Some young men drink beer from brown paper bags out on the street. Alicia holds what looks like a beer at a wedding. BLOOD/GORE Rosario has what looks like a large bruise on her arm. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Rosario and others are illegal immigrants in the U.S., and Dona Carmen is a Mexican woman who arranges such cross-border transport for a fee. Carlitos' young friend, Chito, yells out "Hey baby" to a woman in passing. Benita isn't happy to see Carlitos' uncle and aunt arrive at his birthday party, and starts to refer to one or both as a "son of a bitch," but doesn't complete the phrase and it isn't within their earshot. When the couple gets Carlitos alone, the uncle forcibly makes Carlitos listen to him about the boy's sick grandmother, his long-absent mother, and his father. Marta and her brother David offer their services to Dona Carmen (of taking babies across the border for tuition money for David). She turns them down, but Carlitos takes them up on his offer, and they smuggle him into the U.S. in their van (albeit barely and not as planned). One of Rosario's bosses is a snooty woman who knows she's hired an illegal immigrant, is mean and demanding toward her, and then fires her, including refusing to pay her for work already done (asking what she's going to do, call the police?). A man offers to help Carlitos in exchange for money, but when Carlitos can't find his cash, the man becomes increasingly irritated and mad, eventually grabbing the boy hard by the arm. He then attempts to sell him to some sort of pimp, but a woman, Reyna, intervenes and saves the boy. Enrique initially wants nothing to do with Carlitos and is irritated the boy is tagging along with him (but he eventually changes his ways, befriends and helps the boy, and he sacrifices his status to allow the boy to escape from the police so that he can try to meet his mom). Some young men drink beer from brown paper bags out on the street. When they see Carlitos pass by alone, one starts following him, wanting his backpack (but Enrique comes to his rescue by acting like his father and escorts the boy to safety). FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed here and under "Violence" may be unsettling or suspenseful to younger viewers but probably few others (if anything, they might instill some brief concern about something bad possibly happening). We see a dream or flashback that Rosario is having about her illegal border crossing. We see her and others wading through a river at night, and then having border patrol or similar people come after them. To smuggle Carlitos across the border, Marta and David reluctantly have the boy wedge himself down under the floorboard of their van. It's quite hot with little air down there, but he must remain silent as the siblings attempt to cross the border. The suspicious American border patrol guards make the siblings get out, while one thoroughly checks the van, barely missing seeing Carlitos through a hole. Just as they're waved through, they're stopped again, with the van (and Carlitos still inside it) impounded for back taxes. Marta and David worry about the boy in the now locked and closed van in the heat, but we later see him exit the vehicle at night in the impound lot. A man offers to help Carlitos in exchange for money, but when Carlitos can't find his cash, the man becomes increasingly irritated and mad, eventually grabbing the boy hard by the arm. He then attempts to sell him to some sort of pimp, but a woman, Reyna, intervenes and saves the boy. INS officials raid a produce plant where Carlitos, Enrique and others are working. Most everyone flees, but one is beaten with a billy club and captured, while Carlitos and Enrique separately hide and thus avoid being caught. Some young men drink beer from brown paper bags out on the street. When they see Carlitos pass by alone, one starts following him, wanting his backpack (but Enrique comes to his rescue by acting like his father and escorts the boy to safety). Some viewers may worry when Rosario decides she must return to Mexico in case Carlitos is there, when he's really quite close by. Two cops spot Carlitos sleeping on a park bench, ask what he's doing, and then grab and head him toward their car. To create a diversion, Enrique throws a cup of coffee at the cops and then runs off. They tackle and cuff him, but the boy gets away. Some viewers may worry that Carlitos is going to run out into a busy street when he and his mom spot each other, but that doesn't happen. GUNS/WEAPONS INS officials raid a produce plant, and use a billy club on one man with whom they then struggle. As others flee in a truck, another INS official fires his handgun in the air as a warning shot, but nothing else happens. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "I'm too old for this bullsh*t," "Hey baby," "Creep," "Gringos," "Loosen up, tight-ass," "We're screwed," "What the hell do you care?" "Tell them to go to hell," "You're nuts," "Screwed" and "Screwing" (nonsexual), "What the hell were you thinking?" "Idiot," "Dirty bastards," "Are you kidding me?" "Damn it," "Are you nuts?" "What the hell do you want from me?" "You ungrateful brat" and "Pissed off." It's possible the film could inspire illegal immigrants to try to sneak into the U.S. Carlitos' young friend, Chito, yells out "Hey baby" to a woman in passing. Chito puts a wad of chewing gum on a pole that's already covered in similar wads. Various characters have varying degrees and styles of tattoos (one has a lot as a wannabe rapper). A man wears several earrings in his ear. Some miscellaneous graffiti is seen in several scenes. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A mild amount of suspenseful and ominous music plays in the film MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 2 "s" words, 6 hells, 4 damns, 1 ass, 1 S.O.B. (and another incomplete one) and 1 use each of "G-damn," "For God's sakes," "God" and "Oh God." SEX/NUDITY We see Carlitos in his underwear when he gets up and then when he takes the equivalent of a sponge bath outdoors. Rosario shows varying amounts of cleavage in different outfits (some are low-cut and show a lot). We see some hookers hanging out on the street during the day (bikini-style top showing cleavage, another showing her bare midriff, etc.). A minor character shows some cleavage. We see Enrique shirtless in the bathroom and then in just his boxers as he prepares for bed. Carlitos shows Enrique a photo of his mom and Enrique is enticed by her good looks. He lies that she isn't that "hot," but then half-jokingly asks Carlitos if he has a photo of her in a bathing suit. Waiting for Rosario and Paco to come out of a back room for their pending marriage, Alicia says they're taking a long time in there, and jokes that maybe they couldn't wait for "desert" (but the two are just talking). SMOKING Dona Carmen briefly smokes. TENSE FAMILY SCENES We hear that Rosario has been away from Carlitos for four years (in Los Angeles, trying to raise enough money to bring him over). They only speak by phone once a week, and when she asks him if he needs anything, he replies, "You." Benita isn't happy to see Carlitos' uncle and aunt arrive at his birthday party, and starts to refer to one or both as a "son of a bitch," but doesn't complete the phrase and it isn't within their earshot. When the couple gets Carlitos alone, the uncle forcibly makes Carlitos listen to him about the boy's sick grandmother, his long-absent mother, and his father. When Carlitos says he doesn't have one, the uncle says he does and that Oscar lives in Tucson. Later, that talk has upset Carlitos and he cries about missing his mom. Carlitos can't wake his grandmother and then realizes she died in her sleep. He then packs up his things, writes a farewell note, gives her a last hug, and then sets out to find his mother. Carlitos meets his father for the first time, and the young man is affected by their similarities and the boy paying for their meal. Carlitos thinks his parents can get back together, and his dad is going to drive Carlitos to Los Angeles, but he never shows up to do that (greatly disappointing and frustrating the boy). Carlitos then asks Enrique why his parents don't want him (Rosario does, but the boy has his doubts since she's been gone for 4 years). Rosario receives a phone call informing her of her mother's death, as well as that Carlitos has left and is headed her way (thus causing Rosario to experience grief and worry simultaneously). TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Illegal immigration. Rosario choosing to be away from her young son (from the age of 5 to 9) while illegally in the U.S. trying to earn enough money to bring him there. Rosario reluctantly agrees to a shotgun marriage to Paco (since he has his papers, thus making her legal and allowing them to bring Carlitos into the U.S.). Later, however, she calls this off as she thinks one should only get married for love. VIOLENCE When his aunt and uncle get Carlitos alone, the uncle forcibly makes Carlitos listen to him about the boy's sick grandmother, his long-absent mother, and his father. A man offers to help Carlitos in exchange for money, but when Carlitos can't find his cash, the man becomes increasingly irritated and mad, eventually grabbing the boy hard by the arm. INS officials raid a produce plant, and use a billy club on one man with whom they then struggle. As others flee in a truck, another INS official fires his handgun in the air as a warning shot, but nothing else happens. Carlitos kicks his backpack in anger and frustration over his father not showing up to drive him to Los Angeles. Two cops spot Carlitos sleeping on a park bench, ask what he's doing, and then grab and head him toward their car. To create a diversion, Enrique throws a cup of coffee at the cops and then runs off. They tackle and cuff him, but the boy gets away. Reviewed March 25, 2008 / Posted March 28, 2008