Selena (1997)



This 90s biopic is kind of a throwback look at a simpler time and has a 50s feel to it.  Jennifer Lopez is Serena Quintanilla, raised by her father to be the crossover star that he was unable to do due to discrimination.  Rebecca Lee Meza as the young Selena is is well cast as a girl who needs to learn Spanish even though she is Hispanic.  And then Jennifer Lopez does a fine job as the grown Selena, who (spoiler alert) is gone too soon.  The proverbial Candle in the Wind.

Well cast with a full Hispanic cast, which would be significant today and very ahead of its time for the 1990s.  The photography does a good job of capturing the scenes set in South Texas and Monterrey, Mexico.

Edward James Olmos is Abraham Quintanilla, who drives young Selena.  As they say, the biopic is always about the father.  A good job of setting up her to continue his dashed dreams.  Some good father/daughter drama as she grows up from a girl to a woman.  The whole movie moves along at a breezy pace which makes it fun.  And some fine comedic scenes, particularly "Anything for Selenas!"

**** of 5



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