John Leguizamo: Indie Rocker?

Just watched an interesting low-budget film called "Sueno," a 2005 movie starring John Leguizamo. He plays a budding musician struggling to make it on L.A.'s Latin rock scene. With a hipster haircut that doesn't entirely suit him, Leguizamo sort of resembles a Latin version of John Rzeznik, the lead singer of the Goo Goo Dolls. Elizabeth Pena plays Leguizamo's neighbor, a divorced mom he convinces to join his band as a singer. (She later played his mother in 2008's "Nothing Like the Holidays.")

It's refreshing that this movie shows a side of the Latin community that doesn't involve the usual stereotypes -- drugs, gangs, illegal immigration, etc. As much as I like this movie, it's a bit overly earnest. Some of the dialogue is a bit corny, such as when a beautiful girl Leguizamo's character is pursuing rejects him and he says, "I'm here for you. X marks the spot," which he punctuates by drawing an invisible X over his heart. Also, the plot never really explain why this girl is so resistant to dating him. Whether they end up together in the end, you'll have to see for yourself.

Overall, I'd recommend "Sueno," if for no other reason than for showing minorities in a positive light.
Overal