The plot is as intentionally generic as they come: Ferrell is a dim-bulb little brother to a sleazy drug dealer, but then an even sleazier drug dealer starts messing with the family ranch, and then all sorts of wacky mayhem breaks loose. Kudos to Mr. Piedmont for his often silly / sometimes lovely visual ideas, and to Ferrell and his castmates for allowing a “skit concept” to blossom into a full-fledged movie, but mostly to Mr. Steele for throwing a wide variety of comedy into the Casa mix. The gags range from simple mockery of sloppy filmmaking to subtle touches only a Spanish housewife would understand, and various visual non-sequiters that make little sense, but sure do hit the screen with a welcome sense of silliness.

Either a labor of love for all involved, or some kind of wager made over a few bottles and bong hits, Casa De Mi Padre may not be as uproariously funny as Ferrells’ most popular films, but in a way it’s even better. It’s odd, goofy, affectionate, creative, and sly — and it’s indicative of a big-time movie star who’s willing to spend time on something that’s not a sure-thing guaranteed smash at the box office. Basically, when we all look back over the guy’s colorful movie career, I expect that this one will continue to stand out as a fan favorite, cult classic, or somewhere in between.  watch new movies