Full Review

A well-meaning misfire, the low-budget "Tortilla Heaven" (Archangel Entertainment) chronicles the wacky complications that ensue in a devout Southwestern hamlet when the image of Jesus manifests itself in a most unusual way.

The ensemble comedy-drama by first-time feature director/co-writer Judy Hecht Dumontet finds curmudgeonly nonbeliever Isidor Navarro (Jose Zuniga), owner of the Tortilla Heaven restaurant in Falfurrias, N.M. (population: 73), caught between a miracle and Mammon when, after missing Mass, he discovers that Christ's visage has appeared on one of his burned tortillas.

His friends and family try to cash in on the ensuing pilgrimage tourism with the help of a shady dealmaker, Gil Garcia (Miguel Sandoval, one of the film's few assets).

The mayor, Don Transito (Geno Silva), envisions a municipal golf course. The priest, Father Pancracio (Marcelo Tubert), initially outraged at the town's marketing efforts ("Jesus Christ is a registered trademark of the Roman Catholic Church!" he declares), comes on board when he learns that he'll be able buy more of his beloved saint statuary, which he quirkily addresses as if the statues were real. The ageless Olivia Hussey plays a British artisan and nudist, Petra, whose teenage daughter, Dinora (Judy Herrera), begins a chaste romance with Isidor's son, Marco (Alexis Cruz).

What starts as a clever idea for a satirical look at keeping one's religious ideals in a world of capitalistic temptation is sabotaged by dead-end subplots with cartoonish logic and contrived crises. The flat direction, uneven acting (despite the admirably high-profile cast of Latino actors including George Lopez, Alexis Cruz, Elpidia Carrillo, Irene Bedard and Anna Ortiz, who stars on TV's "Ugly Betty"), and sloppy writing don't help. "Tortilla Heaven" ultimately never finds its tone.

The film contains the occasional crude epithet and mild profanity, rear nudity, some sexual humor and a lightly irreverent end gag. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

These movies have been evaluated for artistic merit and moral suitability by the media reviewing division of Catholic News Service. The reviews include the CNS rating, the Motion Picture Association of America rating, and a brief synopsis of the movie.

The classifications are as follows:

A-I -- general patronage;
A-II -- adults and adolescents;
A-III -- adults;
L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. L replaces the previous classification, A-IV.
O -- morally offensive.

Note: Some movies previously were designated A-IV. Older films with this classification should be regarded as classified L.