'Cuban Fury' is not some avant-garde black-and-white Fidel Castro biopic, illustrating the revolutionary leader's rise to power. No. It is about a British man's love of salsa.
In my view, it also happens to be the greatest film of all time.
What do Oppenheimer, The Godfather and Citizen Kane all share? Taking half a day to explore and tie up 18 different themes and plots.
Nick Frost’s pet project (he wrote it in addition to starring in it) isn't your typical formulaic comedy, nor is it like his previously well-known films Shaun of the Dead or Hot Fuzz.
Granted, I do love The Godfather, but stick with me on Cuban Fury.
Bruce Garrett (Frost) is a 40-something-year-old office worker down on his luck still struggling to come to terms with a pretty grim beating he took as a 10-year-old. Despite the flashback not being in black and white, there's some 'gritty realism' for you.
His love of salsa as a promising youngster was the catalyst for the bullies' assault and so he subsequently quit that life entirely, leaving his former instructor Ron (the brilliant Ian McShane) heartbroken.
Flash forward to the present day. Bruce meanders through life in the shadow of his narcissistic co-worker Drew (the hilarious Chris O'Dowd), until one day he finds a reason to get a grip of himself, Julia (Parks and Recreation's Rashida Jones).
And there the story starts. He discovers she too has a love of salsa, so he goes on a journey to rediscover himself and his sequined shirt.
Nick Frost slips on his dancing shoes in the first trailer for Cuban Fury: http://t.co/RYEnuqcfSU pic.twitter.com/DVQqN57DsK
— Total Film (@totalfilm) November 15, 2013
Here are the reasons why Cuban Fury is sensationally good:
The cast
As well as Frost, Jones, McShane and O'Dowd, who are all brilliant, you have Academy Award winner Olivia Colman playing Bruce's sister Sam, Rory Kinnear as Bruce's best mate Gary and Kayvan Novak as the flamboyant Bejan. Oh, and you also have a blink-and-you-'ll-miss-it cameo from Frost's real-life best mate, Simon Pegg, who is credited as 'Ginger Mondeo driver'.
O'Dowd is honestly a scene stealer as Drew. His relentless put-downs are shamefully funny and he effortlessly oozes the right amount of sleaze to set him up as the perfect love rival for Julia.
McShane playing the alcohol-inclined Ron, again brilliant. Bruce has to work on winning Ron back round for much of the film, which culminates in a brilliant scene at the end of the film. McShane typifies the hardened geezer attitude which goes against the salsa stereotype.
Colman is amazing in everything she's in in all fairness, but plays a brilliant 'cool sister' opposite Frost and spurs him on at every tumble.
Frost, Bruce Barrett himself. He makes no bones about his weight in the film and can clearly take a joke. He embodies the "it's never too late" way of thinking extremely well and the story is pretty heartwarming when you think of it like that.
Olivia & Nick Frost rehearsing their dances ❤️🔥
— Olivia Colman Extras (@OCExtras) August 30, 2022
BTS of Cuban Fury (2014) pic.twitter.com/ev5aj8gV8Y
The dancing
I'm not a Strictly fan or anything like that, I don't like dancing films, musicals and all that tackle, but I was impressed by the choreography here. Some moments were truly impressive and I think Frost performed most of his dance scenes himself.
My highlight, however, is the cheesy as hell "dance-off" between Drew and Bruce atop a multi-storey carpark outside their workplace. It's stupid, daft, yet fantastic. Frost appears to complete a backflip in it for god's sake.
The ending wraps up at a dance hall, I won't spoil it, but, the actual competition features some pretty impressive shapes being thrown, from all parties.
It knows what it is
It's a fantastically cheesy romp that is over and done within an hour and a half. Cuban Fury is not some gritty thriller or clever crime drama that needs a ridiculous twist ending to satisfy the critics.
Chris O’Dowd doesn’t go on a revenge mission and shoot Frost’s sister in the head. The dance hall doesn’t burn down at the end leaving everyone trapped inside. His alcoholic dance teacher does not drop dead of a heart attack before the final dance. It wasn't all a dream inside Bruce's head as he lays dying of a tumour.
If you have to truly go in deep and pick it apart, I guess you can say it's a film about forgotten youth. He turns his life around and finds his confidence through a passion he was initially embarrassed by. It’s a life lesson. Don’t let what other people think or say alter your life. Stick to what you love and you’ll be happier for it.
It's also just about a big bloke salsa dancing. Take my money!
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