‘Casa Bonita Mi Amor’ Review: Trey Parker & Matt Stone Save A Piece Of Their Childhood In This Sweet Doc

Way back in 2003, Trey Parker and Matt Stone released an episode of “South Park” that revolved around one of their beloved childhood memories, a Mexican restaurant called Casa Bonita. The episode culminates in Cartman running through Casa Bonita, escaping the cops long enough to see all the sights and experience the restaurant in its entirety. When the cops and parents finally catch up to him, they ask him if it was worth it, and he says, “Totally.” It’s clear the real Casa Bonita is a place filled with fond memories for Parker and Stone. And that’s why, as seen in the new documentary “Casa Bonita Mi Amor,” the duo spent literal millions of dollars saving it. 

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Calling Casa Bonita a restaurant is a bit of a misnomer. Sure, it used to serve food to thousands of Denver families, but it has more in common with a theme park than anything else. It has an arcade, cliff divers, characters in costume, and even a haunted cave. Unfortunately, when the pandemic hit, the restaurant didn’t survive. The Denver community was distraught. That included Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the co-creators of the uber-successful cartoon, “South Park.” So, when they found out the restaurant was involved in bankruptcy proceedings, they swooped in to purchase it. But as anyone who has ever seen an episode of an HGTV show can tell you, purchasing a fixer-upper comes with all sorts of issues. And “Casa Bonita Mi Amor” pulls back the curtain to show the hardships—and millions of dollars spent—in an attempt to restore the restaurant back to its former glory. 

Let’s get this out of the way early— “Casa Bonita Mi Amor” is very much an extended episode of an HGTV show. This is a film about two men who purchase a restaurant and spend the bulk of the runtime spending absurd amounts of money to fix it up. A lot of the footage is exactly what you’d expect to see—demolition, renovations, discussions about money, etc… All that to say, there’s nothing revolutionary going on with the film, and that could lead to ‘Casa Bonita’ becoming a bit of a bore. Thankfully, there are two saving graces that elevate it above cable-channel content— Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

When you have two of the funniest satirists of the past 25 years as the main subjects of your documentary, the audience can’t help but have a good time. And not only that, we also get the chance to see these two outside of the creation of “South Park” and really dig into how they operate as friends and business partners. Stone is the business and numbers guy. Parker, on the other hand, is largely the creative mind. And in terms of this film, Parker is the main subject, as he talks passionately about how Casa Bonita shaped his youth. Plus, he’s just hilarious. There is no shortage of laugh-out-loud moments in “Casa Bonita Mi Amor” that just wouldn’t exist unless Trey Parker was there to add levity. But make no mistake, the film itself isn’t funny. In fact, it could be viewed as a cautionary tale with a little hope at the end. But Parker turns it into a comedy just by being himself. 

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of “Casa Bonita Mi Amor” is its heart. Parker and Stone are best known for a show that pushes the boundaries of acceptable comedy on cable TV. To say they often ruffle feathers is an understatement. However, in this documentary, they often provide the heart and soul of the film, specifically Parker. He is so passionate about Casa Bonita that you can’t help but feel the sincerity pour out with every word he says. This film gives audiences a chance to see Parker shed his typical comedic stylings and just speak from the heart. It’s actually, dare I say, a sweet film.

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However, for all its humor and sincerity, “Casa Bonita Mi Amor” rarely breaks through as something more than its HGTV trappings. There’s just no way around it. The film sags when they talk about how the pool is leaking or how the “rock guys” are building new rocks for the restaurant. Did you know they had to replace all of the HVAC equipment to pass code? You will after you watch the film. 

Ultimately, “Casa Bonita Mi Amor” is a worthy watch, just for the Parker and Stone of it all. These two are hugely entertaining and surprisingly sweet in the film. And if you’re someone who loves watching shows about fixer-uppers and renovations, then you’ll absolutely adore this film. [B-]