La Bamba-1987

Director Luis Valdez

Starring Lou Diamond Phillips, Esai Morales

Scott’s Review #1,242

Reviewed April 3, 2022

Grade: A-

The brief musical career of Mexican rock ‘n’ roll star Richie Valens is showcased in a lovely little film called La Bamba (1987).

The film spawned a massive United States number-one hit, the title track by the band Los Lobos, which filled the summer with rich culture and a hummable beat.

The song is a remake of Valen’s 1958 hit, and I’m humming it as I write this review!

The film itself is flavorful and tinged with Latino colors and traditions, such as the importance of family. It provides a much-needed look at diversity and recognition of a young talent taken way too soon.

His rise to stardom is the main focus. Still, his influence on his family, most notably his younger brother, is not forgotten, as love, respect, jealousy, and conflict engulf their relationship.

Valens, a Los Angeles teenager played by Lou Diamond Phillips, becomes an overnight rock ‘n’ roll success in 1958, thanks to a love ballad called “Donna” that he wrote for his girlfriend (Danielle von Zerneck), whose parents didn’t want her to date a Latino boy.

But as his star rises, Valens clashes with his jealous brother, Bob (Esai Morales), and is haunted by a recurring nightmare of a plane crash, which terrifies him and coincides with his first national tour alongside Buddy Holly (Marshall Crenshaw).

Foreshadowing indeed. It’s common knowledge that Valens tragically died in a plane crash over Iowa, alongside Holly and other prominent musicians.

Lou Diamond Phillips is fantastic in the lead role of Ritchie. The actor can entertain the audience while staying true to the Mexican star’s life. Not merely physically resembling him, Phillips brings Ritchie’s famous life and energy to the table.

Not lasting long in this world, the actor infuses as much soul as he can into the ill-fated singer, successfully creating a dedication to his life.

The supporting actors are all terrific. Morales is highly talented; his character, Bob, is conflicted by his brother’s success yet closely bonded to him.

As Mama Connie, Rosanna DeSoto is fiercely protective of her cub while championing his career path and natural talent.

Finally, Elizabeth Pena deserves praise for playing Rosie, the victimized girlfriend of Bob.

The interracial romance between Ritchie and Donna is also a central theme in La Bamba. Many decades after their brief romance, interracial relationships are commonplace, but there are still those who object.

The chemistry between Phillips and von Zerneck is palpable, but mostly I imagined how nice it would have been between the real-life figures, and the endless possibilities had the singer not perished.

Director and writer Luis Valdez deserves credit for giving this relationship meaning by making it clear that other marginalized minority communities can be assured that most people support their unions.

La Bamba (1987) is a film where all the parts come together in perfect form. The music, the culture, and the characters all brim with life and meaning, ironically, since the biography could have easily been a downer.

Instead, it inspires and teaches unity and the forever-lasting power of music.

Yes, there are occasional cliches, but I enjoyed the film immensely.