It’s obvious that Cheech Marin is a very funny guy and the kind of person that’d have you choking on your beer if he sat at your table in a pub. While it’s the kind of talent that doesn’t necessarily translate well to the silver screen, thanks to Marin’s goofy, lovable way of delivering the lines he manages to pull it off movie after movie.

Born in East L.A. is Marin’s first solo project after parting ways with Tommy Chong, and compared to the awful The Corsican Brothers, the decision seems like a good one. The story of an US born citizen of Mexican heritage getting deported to Tijuana by immigration agents is definitely a delicious one. The overall experience is enjoyable, but there are certainly a lot of unnecessary, loose plot ends here that could’ve used some streamlining (read: leaving on the cutting room floor), like the clueless Mexican cousin wandering around back in LA.

Born in East L.A. is a one man show that will most likely please most of his fans, and the movie doesn’t feel badly dated, thanks to the immigration theme that is these days even more topical now than back then.

80s-o-meter: 85%

Total: 72%