Born in East L.A.
Dir: Cheech Marin
1987
***
Based on the song 'Born in East L.A.' by Randy Newman (a parody of the songs 'Born in the U.S.A.' and 'I Love L.A.') that appeared on Cheech and Chong's album Get out of my Room. Born in East L.A. is Cheech Marin's first venture into directing and is his first leading role without long time partner Tommy Chong. He carries the film well, as a man mistakenly thought to be an illegal Mexican immigrant who tries to get back into the USA illegally even though he is a US citizen. The film points out some very important and very real problems with the boarder control situation but is funny and light hearted enough for it too be not too political or at least, not so the right-wing contingent would notice or at least not enough to kick up a fuss. It's good, very of the era and is funny. It's no Cheech & Chong movie though.