Too Many Tamales is a delightful family film that showcases the heartwarming traditions of Christmas in a Mexican-American household. This movie is adapted from a children's book by Gary Soto and directed by the acclaimed filmmaker Tazuko Shibusawa, who infuses the story with her trademark sensitivity and visual flair. The plot centers on Maria (Blanca Camacho), a young girl who lives with her parents and extended family in a modest house in East Los Angeles. Maria's parents are immigrants from Mexico, and they are proud of their cultural heritage. They speak Spanish at home, cook traditional dishes, and celebrate Christmas with all the trimmings, including tamales. Maria is especially enthusiastic about tamales, and she helps her mother and grandmother prepare a huge batch for their family gathering.
One afternoon, while the adults are busy setting up the house and decorating the tree, Maria decides to try on her mother's diamond ring, which she had been warned not to touch. However, she forgets to take it off before kneading the tamales, and the ring slips off her finger and into the masa. Desperate to find the ring before her mother discovers its loss, Maria enlists the help of her cousins, and they devour the tamales one by one, hoping to find the ring inside.
As the tamale-eating contest escalates into a frenzy, Maria realizes with horror that they have eaten all the tamales, including those meant for the party. She fears the wrath of her mother and the shame of ruining Christmas, and she and her cousins embark on a wild adventure to recreate the tamales before anyone finds out. Along the way, they encounter a series of hilarious mishaps, from mistaking chili powder for cinnamon to mistaking chicken feed for cornmeal.
Meanwhile, as the family gathers around the Christmas tree, Maria's parents notice that the tamales are missing and suspect that a raccoon has stolen them. Maria and her cousins, out of breath and covered in masa, arrive just in time to join the celebration and offer their homemade tamales as a surprise gift. As the family enjoys the delicious feast, Maria comes clean about losing the ring and learns a valuable lesson about honesty, responsibility, and forgiveness.
Too Many Tamales is a charming movie that captures the essence of a multicultural Christmas with warmth and humor. The script is witty and poignant, the performances are engaging, and the cinematography is vibrant and colorful. This movie is a perfect choice for families who want to experience the joy of the holiday season while learning about the richness of Latino culture.
Too Many Tamales is a 2017 family movie with a runtime of 12 minutes.
