Drama

History

Flamin' Hot

Franklin Entertainment

Searchlight Pictures

United States of America

English

Español

Jesse García

Annie Gonzalez

Emilio Rivera

Vanessa Martinez

Dennis Haysbert

Tony Shalhoub

Pepe Serna

Bobby Soto

Jimmy Gonzáles

Matt Walsh

Carlos S. Sanchez

Hunter Jones

Carlos Solórzano

Brice González

Jayde Martinez

Fabian Alomar

Scar

Eric Marq

Alejandro Montoya Marin

Howard Ferguson Jr.

Peter Diseth

Lora Martinez-Cunningham

Zach Rose

Stephen Zamora

J.D. Garfield

Jacob Browne

Jackamoe Buzzell

Stephanie Jones

Stephen Fuller Austin

Brent Black

Landall Goolsby

Gianna Gallegos

Hank Rogerson

Vic Browder

Kevin Chambers

Ericka Zepeda

Eli Bickel

Beckett Bauer

Brady Bauer

Rafael Herrera

Jack O'Donnell

D'Nette Wood

Mickey Bond

Greg Lutz

Gerald Cordova

George Strada

Margarito Chairez

Eva Longoria

Grant George

Linda Yvette Chavez

Byron Beane

Christi Moraga

Federico Cantini

Brandon Mendez

Samuel Rodriguez

David Kern

Kayla Emter

Liza D. Espinas

Cabot McMullen

Marcelo Zarvos

Diane Warren

David Hack

Kim Trujillo

Billy W. Ray

Tateum Kohut

Colt Allen

Elaine Montalvo

Colleen Fox

Kelly D. Miller

Katie Halliday

Greg Orloff

Laura Estelle Connolly

Mark DeSimone

Danny Reeves

Kierke Panisnick

Frank Smathers

Smokey Cloud

Antony Zeller

Sierra Barton

Zane D. Bruce

Madeline McCue

Jolynn Nieto

Kirbie Seis

Luke Hussack

Alison Grossman

Carla Hool

Lisa Rodgers

Nicole Auringer

Cole Henken-Siefken

Alejandro Marmolejo

Phillip Bladh

Shane Bruce

Lindsay Pepper

Teressa Hill

TK Shom

Giovanna Anderson

Andrew La Pointe

Lindsay Zgonina

Conrad R. Padilla

Leah Hopkins

Emily Aragones

Selinda Zhou

Álvaro Moreno

Takashi Takeoka

Ben Roe

Jack Keough

Marisa Freeman

Sebastian Hasbun

Susan Parras

Chelsea Hooper

Ursula Rose Rochester

Walter Volpatto

Vanessa Jorge Perry

Judy Montañez

Shayne Hartigan

Shani Orona

Richard Montañez

Eric Jacobo

Jonathan Thornhill

Thomas Milsom

Richard Ziegler

Wolfie Trausch

Linda Moulton

Jennie Shea

Nicholas A. Mudd

Lewis Colick

Olivia Hasse

Eric Thelander

Derick Pritchard

Taylor Roberts

Deidre Hannah

Ricardo Camacho Paramo

Erica Weis

Marisa Frantz

Joshua R. Aragon

Donavin Merritt

Paul Broadhead

Carol Mitchell

Dennis Noyes

Daniel Zollinger

Neil Solberg

John Bonaccorse

Dylan Kelling

Rudy Covarrubias

Merrin Marra

Sweta Madhapuri

Hetal Jain

Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots

Eva Longoria makes her feature film directorial debut in “Flamin’ Hot,” a breezy biopic about Richard Montanez, the man who invented the super spicy (and well known) flavor of Cheetos. This underdog story of a hardworking Mexican immigrant who found success despite all of the boxes society tried to put him in is one that’s inspiring, satisfying, and universal.

As a teenager, Montanez (Jesse Garcia) was in and out of trouble. As he puts it, “when society treats you like a criminal, you become one.” He was on the fast track to a permanent life of crime until his wife Judy (Annie Gonzalez) became pregnant with their first son. Searching for a better life for his new family, Richard relied on his street smarts and entrepreneurial attitude to go out and make his own success story. A go-getter from the start, he ended up working at Frito Lay and, after “thinking like a CEO,” came up with the idea to create a flavor that would appeal to the large Hispanic market and save the snack food industry.

It’s a terrific story that captures the Mexican-American experience that’s not often seen in mainstream films. Linda Yvette Chávez’s script feels deeply personal, and she takes Richard’s inspiring, complex story and gives us an intimate picture of the man behind the Cheetos. The result is a very human film about discrimination, determination, and the ability to get a leg up on life by pulling yourself out of a bad situation.

The story (which is actually controversial because there is a debate as to who really invented the snack flavor) is full of humor and heart. It’s a love story between Richard and Judy, his supporting, loving wife. She isn’t just a background character waiting in the shadows, but is presented as a very strong, tenacious woman who dominates every seen she’s in.

As is the case with most biopics, there’s obvious embellishment and exaggeration, and there’s no shortage of emotional fluffery that is designed to tug on your heartstrings. There’s plenty of discussion about having faith and living the American dream, which does feel as corny as it sounds.

There’s a lot of talk about representation in front of the camera, but it’s important behind the camera, too. Longoria put her money where her mouth is and hired a diverse crew for her film because who tells these stories also matters. The final product is something that radiates an authentic tone and feeling that is rare, especially for a biopic.

Longoria’s directorial style is polished and well-matched to the script, with a clear vision and voice. The cast is just as easy to love. Charismatic and sympathetic, I was rooting for Richard and Judy the minute they were introduced onscreen. Casting is so important in a film like this, and it couldn’t be more perfect.

Despite a predictable outcome and a few obvious exaggerations of the truth, “Flamin’ Hot” is an irresistible underdog story about a disruptor who shook up the snack food industry. It’s a funny, sweet, and delightful film that’s as crowd-pleasing as it gets.

By: Louisa Moore

Best Movies

Flamin' Hot

Cast & Crew

Videos

Cast

Jesse García

Annie Gonzalez

Emilio Rivera

Vanessa Martinez

Dennis Haysbert

Tony Shalhoub

Pepe Serna

Bobby Soto

Jimmy Gonzáles

Matt Walsh

Box office

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