Review: Casa de mi Padre

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To get “Casa de mi Padre” you need not know your telenova stars or much at all about Mexican moviedom. Shot in “MexicoScope” and subtitled in English, this Spanish-language parody of a global genre is of a piece with past “Saturday Night Live” bits. Their creators, writer Andrew Steele and director Matt Piedmont, reunite here for a feature-length affair that is far more than a mere skit running too long. The genre’s clichés are so copious, there is little risk of running out. Sight gags include continuity gaffes and gaffers reflected in extreme close-up on the lens of sunglasses. Will Ferrell stars as dim Armando, the good-hearted older brother of flashy Raul (Diego Luna) who returns to the family ranch with his super-hot fiancee Sonia (Genesis Rodriguez). Drug dealers and DEA agents supply the backdrop for a classic family drama of romance and redemption. Among the credited producers is SNL alum and producer-writer-director hyphenate Adam McKay, who earlier fashioned Ferrell in “Step Brothers,” “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” and “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.” From the distributor of last year’s “Salvando al Soldado Pérez” (“Saving Private Perez”). Mostly set in Iraq, that Mexican narco-family comedy lacked the meta-yuks that are key to the comic success of “Casa de mi Padre.” With Gael García Bernal, Pedro Armendáriz Jr., Nick Offerman, Efren Ramirez, Adrian Martinez. 84m. (Bill Stamets)