Review: Teens caught in unguarded moments in ‘Mamitas’
The feature debut from writer-director Nicholas Ozeki, “Mamitas” is an adaptation of his earlier short film of the same name, and despite flashes of lively charm the expansion may not be entirely justified.
Los Angeles high-schooler Jordin Juarez (E.J. Bonilla) tests well but doesn’t apply himself, opting instead to put on the air of a tough-guy player. After being shot down by her cousin, he ends up talking to Felipa Talia (Veronica Diaz-Carranza), a bookish girl he wouldn’t normally give a second look.
When they find themselves stuck together for an afternoon, they find a deeper connection.
What Ozeki captures best is how the accumulation of teenage coolness can fall away in unguarded moments. The film lags during a spell when the narrative keeps Jordin and Felipa apart, the sparking chemistry of Bonilla and Diaz-Carranza a noticeable absence from the screen, and the story never quite recovers.
Unbalanced storytelling aside, Ozeki wisely works to keep the film focused on his actors, a smart move considering their live-wire charm.
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“Mamitas.” MPAA rating: R for some sexual references and teen partying. Running time: 1 hour, 49 minutes. At selected theaters.
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