Selena

[1997, Movie, PG, 127 mins]

Selena: Review

Never heard of Tejano sensation Selena? Then you probably won't care about this movie version of her fairy-tale ascent and tragic end. But it pulls off a neat trick: molding the story of one talented poor girl from Corpus Christi, TX, into a larger narrative of cultural assimilation. The real Selena Quintanilla Perez may have been a hotpants-wearing, hip-swinging, bustier-clad babe, but the big-screen Selena is a (somewhat dubious) role model for young Hispanic girls everywhere. The lessons: Dream big. (Wouldn't I look good in a Porsche?) Stay close to your family. (Obey your father!) Embrace your roots. (Learn Spanish.) Focus on your craft. (Drop out of school.) Find true love. (Marry that heavy metal guy in your band.) And watch your back. (The president of my fan club seems to have an unhealthy preoccupation with me....) Nava's script and direction are merely competent: He dutifully records for posterity Abraham Quintanilla's (Edward James Olmos) burning need to succeed and his daughter's sometimes tacky aesthetics. But the film soars when the stunning Jennifer Lopez beams and struts her stuff in a series of exhilarating performance sequences; she's a glitzy, thrilling icon a la the made-over Olivia Newton-John of GREASE. This story of little girl whose dreams came true before she grew up is tailor-made to enthrall dreamers and little girls everywhere. Cynics need not apply. --Sandra Contreras

Latest Videos on the Web

'I Could Fall In Love'

Network: AOL music
Posted: 8/2/2008

play

more info

Donde Quiera Que Estes

Network: AOL music
Posted: 8/2/2008

play

more info

Selena
Selena Quintanilla was a major figure in...
Network: Video Detective
Posted: 3/17/2008

play

more info

Selena

Network: iTunes
Posted: 8/2/2008 Length: 2h 7m 27s

play

more info

I COULD FALL IN LOVE
Album: DREAMING OF YOU; Label: EMI
Network: Singing Fool
Posted: 6/20/2008

play

more info

more Selena web videos (19 total videos)

Find more in the Online Video Guide - Enter a TV Show, Movie, or Celebrity

Movies Box Office

This Week	Last Week	Film Title	Days In Release	Gross ($M)	Weekend Gross ($M)
1	1	Tropic Thunder	10	65.7	16.1
2	--	House Bunny, The	3	15.1	15.1
3	--	Death Race	3	12.3	12.3
4	2	Dark Knight, The	38	489.2	10.3
5	3	Star Wars: The Clone Wars	10	25.0	5.7
6	5	Pineapple Express	19	73.9	5.6
7	4	Mirrors	10	20.1	4.9
8	--	Longshots, The	3	4.3	4.304
9	7	Mamma Mia!	38	124.5	4.303
10	6	Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, The	24	93.8	4.1