DramaHistory

Flamin' Hot

- The flavor you know. The story you don't.

The inspiring true story of Richard Montañez, the Frito Lay janitor who channeled his Mexican American heritage and upbringing to turn the iconic Flamin' Hot Cheetos into a snack that disrupted the food industry and became a global pop culture phenomenon.

Release Date : 2023-03-11

Language :EnglishSpanish

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Franklin EntertainmentSearchlight Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Richard Montañez

Original Name : Jesse Garcia

Gender : Male

Character Name : Judy Montañez

Original Name : Annie Gonzalez

Gender : Female

Character Name : Vacho Montañez

Original Name : Emilio Rivera

Gender : Male

Character Name : Concha Montañez

Original Name : Vanessa Martinez

Gender : Female

Character Name : Clarence C. Baker

Original Name : Dennis Haysbert

Gender : Male

Character Name : Roger Enrico

Original Name : Tony Shalhoub

Gender : Male

Character Name : Abuelito

Original Name : Pepe Serna

Gender : Male

Character Name : Tony Romero

Original Name : Bobby Soto

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hector Morales

Original Name : Jimmy Gonzales

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lonny Mason

Original Name : Matt Walsh

Gender : Male

Character Name : Young Richard

Original Name : Carlos S. Sanchez

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lucky Montañez

Original Name : Hunter Jones

Gender : Male

Character Name : Young Lucky Montañez

Original Name : Carlos Solórzano

Gender : Male

Character Name : Steven Montañez

Original Name : Brice Gonzalez

Gender : Male

Character Name : Young Judy

Original Name : Jayde Martinez

Gender : Male

Character Name : Pablito

Original Name : Fabian Alomar

Gender : Male

Character Name : Diego

Original Name : Scar

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nacho

Original Name : Eric Marq

Gender : Male

Character Name : Alejandro

Original Name : Alejandro Montoya Marin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Al Carey

Original Name : Howard Ferguson Jr.

Gender : Male

Character Name : James Finley

Original Name : Peter Diseth

Gender : Male

Character Name : Enrico's Secretary Patti

Original Name : Lora Martinez-Cunningham

Gender : Female

Character Name : Wade Carson

Original Name : Zach Rose

Gender : Male

Character Name : Courthouse Judge

Original Name : Stephen Zamora

Gender : Male

Character Name : Pastor Marco

Original Name : J.D. Garfield

Gender : Male

Character Name : Post Office Clerk

Original Name : Jacob Browne

Gender : Male

Character Name : Post Office Customer

Original Name : Jackamoe Buzzell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Frito Lay Personnel Secretary

Original Name : Stephanie Jones

Gender : Female

Character Name : Frito Lay Plant Director

Original Name : Stephen Fuller Austin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Frito Lay VP of Operations

Original Name : Brent Black

Gender : Male

Character Name : Scientist

Original Name : Landall Goolsby

Gender : Male

Character Name : Young Mary Lou

Original Name : Gianna Gallegos

Gender : Female

Character Name : 1966 Quickie Mart Manager

Original Name : Hank Rogerson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Quickie Mart Police Officer

Original Name : Vic Browder

Gender : Male

Character Name : Quickie Mart Manager

Original Name : Kevin Chambers

Gender : Male

Character Name : Quickie Mart Customer

Original Name : Ericka Zepeda

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cafeteria Kid

Original Name : Eli Bickel

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cafeteria Kid

Original Name : Beckett Bauer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cafeteria Kid

Original Name : Brady Bauer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Landscaper

Original Name : Rafael Herrera

Gender : Male

Character Name : Grocery Store Manager

Original Name : Jack O'Donnell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Supermarket Woman

Original Name : D'Nette Wood

Gender : Male

Character Name : Social Worker

Original Name : Mickey Bond

Gender : Male

Character Name : Angry Husband

Original Name : Greg Lutz

Gender : Male

Character Name : Janitor

Original Name : Gerald Cordova

Gender : Male

Character Name : Waiter

Original Name : George Strada

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bus Boy

Original Name : Margarito Chairez

Gender : Male

Character Name : Secretary (uncredited)

Original Name : Eva Longoria

Gender : Female

Reviews

Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots

@screenzealots

2023-08-04

Eva Longoria makes her feature film directorial debut in “Flamin’ Hot,” a breezy biopic about Richard Montanez, the man who invented the super spicy (and well known) flavor of Cheetos. This underdog story of a hardworking Mexican immigrant who found success despite all of the boxes society tried to put him in is one that’s inspiring, satisfying, and universal. As a teenager, Montanez (Jesse Garcia) was in and out of trouble. As he puts it, “when society treats you like a criminal, you become one.” He was on the fast track to a permanent life of crime until his wife Judy (Annie Gonzalez) became pregnant with their first son. Searching for a better life for his new family, Richard relied on his street smarts and entrepreneurial attitude to go out and make his own success story. A go-getter from the start, he ended up working at Frito Lay and, after “thinking like a CEO,” came up with the idea to create a flavor that would appeal to the large Hispanic market and save the snack food industry. It’s a terrific story that captures the Mexican-American experience that’s not often seen in mainstream films. Linda Yvette Chávez’s script feels deeply personal, and she takes Richard’s inspiring, complex story and gives us an intimate picture of the man behind the Cheetos. The result is a very human film about discrimination, determination, and the ability to get a leg up on life by pulling yourself out of a bad situation. The story (which is actually controversial because there is a debate as to who really invented the snack flavor) is full of humor and heart. It’s a love story between Richard and Judy, his supporting, loving wife. She isn’t just a background character waiting in the shadows, but is presented as a very strong, tenacious woman who dominates every seen she’s in. As is the case with most biopics, there’s obvious embellishment and exaggeration, and there’s no shortage of emotional fluffery that is designed to tug on your heartstrings. There’s plenty of discussion about having faith and living the American dream, which does feel as corny as it sounds. There’s a lot of talk about representation in front of the camera, but it’s important behind the camera, too. Longoria put her money where her mouth is and hired a diverse crew for her film because who tells these stories also matters. The final product is something that radiates an authentic tone and feeling that is rare, especially for a biopic. Longoria’s directorial style is polished and well-matched to the script, with a clear vision and voice. The cast is just as easy to love. Charismatic and sympathetic, I was rooting for Richard and Judy the minute they were introduced onscreen. Casting is so important in a film like this, and it couldn’t be more perfect. Despite a predictable outcome and a few obvious exaggerations of the truth, “Flamin’ Hot” is an irresistible underdog story about a disruptor who shook up the snack food industry. It’s a funny, sweet, and delightful film that’s as crowd-pleasing as it gets. By: Louisa Moore