Chupa movie review 2023

The film "Chupa" is a heartwarming family movie with an irresistibly adorable beast buddy at its center. Chupa, a puppy-cat with wings, is hard not to love as he coos, chitters, and sometimes purrs his way into our hearts. His wings are a rainbow-colored marvel, especially when he flaps them while learning to fly. Chupa is a breath of fresh air for a character who is usually associated with goat-killing and sharp fangs, which is a far cry from the previous movie images of Mexico's mythical el chupacabra.

Unfortunately, Chupa is one of the only original ideas in this generic family film and CGI character exercise from director Jonás Cuarón. While his lack of ambition might not have been so glaring, had he not previously co-written “Gravity” with his father, Alfonso Cuarón, there is little in this movie to suggest a similar sci-fi imagination. Instead, the movie's writers, Sean Kennedy Moore, Joe Barnathan, and Marcus Rinehart, rely heavily on references to the past, including a John Williams-esque score from Carlos Rafael Rivera and a few cameos from “Jurassic Park” merchandise, which take center stage in the movie's 1990s setting.

The movie tells the story of Alex (Evan Whitten), a loner kid who is bullied by his white classmates in Kansas City, who discovers the movie's secret creature. Alex is sent down by his mother to Mexico to stay with his former luchador grandfather (Demián Bechir) and his two cousins Luna (Ashley Ciarra) and Memo (Nickolas Verdugo). Alex would rather play with his Game Boy, and the language barrier discourages him, but his hosts gradually get him to try Mexican food, experiment with fireworks, and even learn how to be a luchador like his father once was.

Enter Chupa, who is also on his own, looking for somewhere to belong. He is being hunted by a tenacious poacher played by Christian Slater, and it's revealed to us through the movie's typical expository dialogue that Chupa will have great economic value once captured. Chupa finds his way to the family's ranch home and finds a friend in Alex. In one bonding moment, Chupa even shares his food with Alex, a squished rat. Chupa's presence accelerates Alex's emotional story, and the two outsiders learn to stand up for themselves, bolstered by the power of family.

While the movie's supposed charm is its predictability, Cuarón confuses familiarity with cuteness and warmth. The movie's simplistic storyline doesn't leave much room for connectivity, and the emotional tissue is thin. The modest set-pieces and small cast are good enough at making Chupa's make-up of zeroes and ones seem real, and the film boasts an intriguing eye from Cuarón and cinematographer, Nico Aguilar. The two create many flowing sequences with the camera moving between shot styles without cutting, allowing dialogue scenes to go between close-ups and wide shots in one take.

The film features some excellent acting, particularly from Demián Bechir, who puts a sincere smile on moments when talking about his past as a luchador and then pounds his chest when it's time for the day to be saved. Bechir fares better than Slater, who merely labors to portray "dastardly" in a course of events that can be predicted beat-by-beat.

Overall, "Chupa" is a well-meaning movie that is often too rote for its own good, but it is still a charming, if somewhat predictable, family film. It is now playing on Netflix, so be sure to check it out if.

Other type review for subscribers

The heart-melting titular creature in “Chupa” is a must-see for anyone who adores cute and cuddly animals. With wings, a combination of a puppy and a cat, Chupa can make you fall in love with him with his coos, chitters, and bashful eyes. But the beast buddy is not just about cuteness; he is also a breath of fresh air for a character that is often associated with goat-killing and sharp fangs. In this movie, director Jonás Cuarón presents the mythical el chupacabra in a whole new light.

“Chupa” is one of the few original ideas in this otherwise generic family film that relies heavily on CGI characters. This lack of creativity is especially surprising considering that Cuarón previously co-wrote the Oscar-winning “Gravity” with his father, Alfonso Cuarón. Sadly, the writing in “Chupa,” by Sean Kennedy Moore, Joe Barnathan, and Marcus Rinehart, lacks the same level of sci-fi imagination. Instead, the movie relies on familiar tropes, including a John Williams-esque score by Carlos Rafael Rivera and a few cameos from “Jurassic Park” merchandise set in the 1990s.

The movie centers around Alex (Evan Whitten), a bullied loner kid from Kansas City who is sent to Mexico to spend time with his former luchador grandfather (Demián Bechir) and his two cousins Luna (Ashley Ciarra) and Memo (Nickolas Verdugo). However, Alex is more interested in his Game Boy than in bonding with his relatives, especially due to the language barrier. Slowly but surely, Alex's hosts introduce him to Mexican cuisine, fireworks, and even the art of luchador wrestling, just like his father was once a part of.

Meanwhile, Chupa, who is being hunted by a tenacious poacher played by Christian Slater, finds his way to the family’s ranch home and befriends Alex. Chupa's presence accelerates Alex’s emotional journey, and the two outsiders learn to stand up for themselves, encouraged by the power of family. However, despite its charm and predictability, the movie lacks emotional depth, with Cuarón mistaking familiar for cute and heartwarming.

Compared to other animal buddy adventures, “Chupa” does not have scenes where Chupa helps Alex defeat bullies, skateboard, or dance in McDonald's. Yet, this overly simplified story also fails to make room for the connection between Alex and Chupa. Although the movie is cute, its emotional tissue is thin. Cuarón works with modest set-pieces and a small cast, which does its best to bring Chupa's digital make-up to life. Bechir is particularly impressive, bringing sincerity and bluster to cliche emotional scenes and weak thrilling sequences, while Slater struggles to portray a convincing villain.

It is unfortunate that “Chupa” is often so predictable, as it boasts a visually stunning and intriguing approach by Cuarón and cinematographer Nico Aguilar. They create several flowing sequences that move seamlessly between different shot styles without cutting, allowing dialogue scenes to shift between close-ups and wide shots in one take. This technique is a smart way to hold viewers' attention from start to finish, especially during scenes where the dialogue lacks nuance. There's even a nod to the famous shot from 1927's "Wings," but it is a missed opportunity to create a more significant spectacle.

In conclusion, “Chupa” is a well-meaning movie with a heartwarming message about the power of family and finding one's place in the world. It is an enjoyable family film that will appeal to children and anyone who loves cute and cuddly animals. However.