Born in East L.A.

1987
R
1h 25m

IMDb RATING

6.0/10

6.7K

YOUR RATING

Play trailer1:32

2 Videos

87 Photos

Comedy

When an L.A. born American citizen is mistaken for a Mexican illegal alien and deported to Mexico, he has to do everything he can to get across the border.When an L.A. born American citizen is mistaken for a Mexican illegal alien and deported to Mexico, he has to do everything he can to get across the border.When an L.A. born American citizen is mistaken for a Mexican illegal alien and deported to Mexico, he has to do everything he can to get across the border.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.0/10

6.7K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 4 wins

Trivia
Contrary to popular belief, the picture of Jesus Christ in Rudy's house is not Tommy Chong. Chong turned down an offer to cameo in the film.

Goofs
When Rudy is working as a tattoo artist, four "bullet hole" tattoos suddenly appear on his client's forehead near the end of the scene.

Quotes
Rudy: If you want to be cool, first you pull your headband into the cool position. then you just lean back, put this hand in your pocket and then you wave this hand behind you like you just cut one and your trying to shoo away the stinch.

Alternate versions
The television broadcast version adds at least 15 to 20 minutes of footage. In this footage, Rudy does make it across the border only to be captured by kidnappers with his friends. He is held for ransom in the house across the street from his home and is rescued by the border patrol. When he hears that Dolores will have to be sent back across the border, he marries her and makes her a citizen. That's why the priest is behind them in the last shot of the TV versions.

Connections
Featured in Demented Top 20 Video Countdown (1988)

Soundtracks
Born in East L.A.
Words by Cheech Marin
Music by Bruce Springsteen
Published by Bruce Springsteen (ASCAP)
Performed by Cheech & Chong
Cheech & Chong appear courtesy of MCA Records

User reviews39

Review

Featured review

7/10

Being in the wrong place, at the wrong time.

Cheech Marin is a great talent. In his film, "Born in East L.A.", he clearly shows a man that has a good understanding about the issues at the heart of this entertaining movie. For some years now he has been by himself as his partnership with Tommy Chong ended.

Mr. Marin makes an important point in the film. Rudy, his main character, is a man born and raised in East L.A., as the title indicates, yet, he is deported to a country he probably has never been to. His roots are American, yet being in the wrong place, at the wrong time, trying to do a favor to his cousin, he is hauled to a detention center for illegal aliens and deported to Mexico.

Of course, the arrest and his deportation serves as the basis of a clever comedy that is easy on the eyes and have us laughing throughout the many funny situations Mr. Marin has created for himself and his crew. Daniel Stern is good as Jimmy, the man that exploits Rudy. Paul Rodriguez has some good moments as the newly arrived guy that keeps thinking the messages he hears in Rudy's answering service come from the Jesus image behind it. The lovely Kamala Lopez is easy on one's eyes, and the great Lupe Ontiveros plays Rudy's mom.

"Born in East L.A." is a funny movie with a message.