Introduction
Released in 2022, Who’s A Good Boy? (El Guau) is directed and co-written by Ihtzi Hurtado, and integrates elements of high school humor, self-discovery and identity through a cultural lens in a and a coming of age story that is equal parts outrageous and genuine. Now streaming on Netflix, it portrays high school life in a way that leans on common cliches, but offers a Latino perspective which is often missing in mainstream teen cinema.
Synopsis
At the center of the story, we find Chema, a socially awkward and optimistic high school senior with a singular goal: losing his virginity before the graduation day. Chema’s goal is in the same lane with becoming someone, earning respect, popularity, and a sense of adult identity. A new confident beautiful girl in school named Claudia becomes the center of his attention.
The entire school is buzzing with Claudia’s arrival and she is climbing the social ladder even as we speak. She is effortlessly cool. Winning Claudia becomes a personal challenge to Chema that transcends romance. It is his way to prove that he can rise above his geeky, invisible status. To win his challenge, he sets out on a hilariously awkward journey which involves his friends, wingmen, and even technology to become the ultimate version of himself.
Furthermore, as his efforts build, Chema finds himself emotionally tangled in a bigger mess. In trying to pursue Claudia, he misses out on the girl who truly gets him and cares for him. As the story progresses, Chema must grapple whether his fantasy life of Claudia is worth giving up his authentic self and genuine emotional relationships.
The story and conflict develops through laughable, cringe moments, slapstick humor, extravagant parties, and other hallmark teenage and school problems. While cliched, the film has a hidden focus on an important teenage theme: the obsession and stress teens put on themselves to meet societal benchmarks, particularly around love, sex, and self-identity.
Characters and Cast
The film rests on the shoulders of Chema, who is played by Sebastián Dante, and he does so with a sincere and charming performance. He undergoes a classic coming of age transformation through the film’s arc, going from a naive, hormonally driven teenager to someone emotionally nuanced. Dante’s warmth, vulnerability, and impeccable comedic timing keeps the audience engaged with his absurd misadventures.
Chema’s love interest and new girl Claudia is acted out by Sirena Ortiz. Claudia seems to carry with herself the burden of being a new girl and the contrived face of beauty and popularity. Her interactions with Chema reveal that just like him, she is also dealing with the madness of the social hierarchy of high school.
The chaotic high school landscape also features supporting characters like Chema’s goofy best friends, competing classmates, and a wide variety of parents and teachers. Every character, in one way or the other, adds texture to the story, be it by attempting and failing to help Chema or by helping him confront his delusions.
The cast also features Harold Azuara, Adrián Vázquez, Grettell Valdez, Diego Meléndez, and Nashla Aguilar. Their portrayals add to the film’s depth, for the sake of laughter and even in the face of the absurd, their sincerity adds to the film’s humanity.
Humor, Themes, and Tone
Through the lens of Mexican culture, Who’s a Good Boy? is aptly placed within the realm of a teenage sex comedy. Like it’s predecessors, American Pie or Superbad, the film is unapologetically raucous. Expect to hear quips about awkward sexual encounters, teen gatherings, and swearing left and right. Within comfort, these moments aimed at crossing lines will often invoke laughter through discomfort or shock.
Underneath the surface-level crude humor, Chema’s story tells a deeper story. Chema’s journey shows the teenage struggles of seeking acceptance, recognition, and self-understanding. His fixation on losing his virginity is an attempt to get validation, rather than an expression of physical detachment. For Chema, believing that sex is a marker of success and popularity is what drives his bad decisions and, in the end, his personal growth.
The film touches on deeper ideas of authenticity, identity, and emotional openness. It also features a subplot about the bullying of a queer student, which, although comes from a serious place, adds to the otherwise light-hearted narrative. As Chema comes to understand the damage done to the world through social norms and arbitrary classifications, the film shifts its narrative from merely hooking up to maturing.
Cultural Context
The film’s cultural specificity is its strongest asset. In the Marco’s teen coming of age film, Who’s a Good Boy?, Set in Mexico and performed in Spanish, adds much-needed Mexican representation to the genre. The movie captures the realities of teenage life in Mexico through their slang, school setting, family dynamics, and societal expectations, all while touching on universal themes.
The film does not feel like an American teen comedy knockoff; instead, it is an adaptation of a well-known story that is culturally unique and local to the Region. It is Hollywood counterparts to its Hollywood counterparts, and the film’s perspective and tone is distinctly unique.
Critical Reception
As for the film’s reception, both critics and audiences gave mixed reviews for Who’s a Good Boy? Some enjoyed the film’s dedication to surreal teen humor and the likeability of its lead. It’s the film’s energy, its comedic timing, and its boldness that irritation of a taboo topic in the adolescent space that earned the film a warm reception.
Others, however, could not get past the sexual overtones, high school clichès, and sexual themes to the point that the film felt offensive, predictable, and winded. Regardless, a good portion of the audience unanimously agreed that the film was, in fact, charming. It became especially clear in the film’s second half, when the emotional stakes became clear.
The film concludes with Chema making a much more mature and authentic choice. Viewers were left contemplating self-acceptance and the importance of meaningful connections instead of popularity.
Final Thoughts
Who’s a Good Boy? is an extreme and unapologetic teen comedy with a surprisingly sentimental message under the laughter. The film captures the essence of coming of age and self-discovery while celebrating the teenage years.
With a notable performance from Sebastián Dante, the film succeeds to capture the essence of a universal teenage experience while blending cultural identity. The film is gentil to the teenage audience who have the openness to experience coming of age stories that flow with chaos and heartfelt moments.
For the audience that enjoys a teen coming of age film with a cultural kolak, this film is sure to deliver awkward moments, life lessons and a whole lot of laughter.
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