FLAMIN’ HOT 

Did you ever eat Flamin’ Hot Cheetos? I haven’t and this film doesn’t make me want to run out and buy Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. But, like Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, this film is a good 99 minute snack – a worthy snack. Flamin’ Hot stays positive and upbeat even through the darkest times-and the bad times are never too bleak.  Eva Longoria (the well-known actress, businesswoman, and philanthropist in Hollywood.) directed the film.  Richard Montañez (Jesse Garcia, Ambulance) is a janitor at a Southern California Doritos factory in 1966. Richard, with the help of the his family, develop the Flamin’ Hot Cheetos for Frito-Lay. Richard’s snack begins selling in 1976 and it becomes a global phenomenon. Now you can find Flamin’ Hot on loads of snack chips.

The Montañez Family © 2023 Franklin Entertainment − All right reserved.

Flamin’ Hot is a heartwarming story about perseverance and reaching for the American dream. The movie is well-acted and is a positive celebration of Mexican-American culture. The characters and the situations in Flamin’ Hot are more than enough to amuse, inspire, and keep the interest of viewers of all ages.

Jesse Garcia as Richard Montañez © 2023 Franklin Entertainment − All right reserved.

Notable characters include:

• Dennis Haysbert (Kodachrome), and the official voice of “You are in Good Hands” with Allstate Insurance) who becomes the mentor and confidence builder of Richard Montañez.

• Annie Gonzalez is Judy, Richard Montañez’s wife. Judy is a good mom and a strong influence on Richard, however, little is known about the character.

• Tony Shalhoub (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) as Roger Enrico, the CEO of Frito-Lay who gives Richard a chance.

Overall, Flamin’ Hot is a quality film with a positive message. It is a story that everyone can relate to, and it is sure to leave you feeling good, maybe even inspired. In general, I would recommend Flamin’ Hot to fans of biographical films, comedy-dramas, and feel-good movies. I gave Flamin’ Hot an extra star after the second viewing, it’s always better the second time.

Reviewed by Frank Movie Reviews August 21, 2023

Movie Details

Director

Eva Longoria

Writer

Screenplay by Linda Yvette Chávez Lewis Colick. Based on A Boy, a Burrito and a Cookie: From Janitor to Executive by Richard Montañez and the life stories of Richard and Judy Montañez

Actors

Jesse Garcia, Annie Gonzalez, Emilio Rivera, Vanessa Martinez, Dennis Haysbert, Tony Shalhoub, Pepe Serna, Bobby Soto, Jimmy Gonzales, Matt Walsh, Carlos S. Sanchez, Hunter Jones, Carlos Solórzano, Brice Gonzalez, Jayde Martinez, Fabian Alomar, Mario Ponce, Eric Marq, Alejandro Montoya Marin, Howard Ferguson Jr., Peter Diseth, Lora Martinez-Cunningham, Zach Rose, Stephen Zamora, J.D. Garfield, Jacob Browne, Jackamoe Buzzell, Stephanie Jones, Stephen Fuller Austin, Brent Black, Landall Goolsby, Gianna Gallegos, Hank Rogerson, Vic Browder, Kevin Chambers, Ericka Zepeda, Eli Bickel, Beckett Bauer, Brady Bauer, Rafael Herrera, Jack O'Donnell, D'Nette Wood, Mickey Bond, Greg Lutz, Gerald Cordova, George Strada, Margarito Chairez

Runtime

1 h 39 min

Release Date

11 March 2023

Genres

Comedy, Drama

Overview

The inspiring true story of Richard Montañez, the Frito Lay janitor who channeled his Mexican American heritage and upbringing to turn the iconic Flamin’ Hot Cheetos into a snack that disrupted the food industry and became a global pop culture phenomenon.