Spare Parts (2015)

Four Hispanic high school students form a robotics club. With no experience, 800 bucks, used car parts and a dream, this rag tag team goes up against the country's reigning robotics champion, MIT.

Director:

Sean McNamara

Writers:

Joshua Davis (based on the Wired Magazine article "La Vida Robot" by), Elissa Matsueda (screenplay)

Stars:

George Lopez, Jamie Lee Curtis, Carlos PenaVega

2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
George Lopez	...	Fredi Cameron
Marisa Tomei	...	Gwen Kolinsky
Jamie Lee Curtis	...	Ms. Karen Lowry
Carlos PenaVega	...	Oscar Vazquez
José Julián	...	Lorenzo Santillan (as Jose Julian)
David Del Rio	...	Cristian Arcega
Oscar Javier Gutierrez II	...	Luis Aranda (as Oscar Gutierrez)
Alessandra Rosaldo	...	Mrs. Vazquez
J.R. Villarreal	...	Hector
Aubrey K. Miller	...	Maddy Kolinsky (as Aubrey Miller)
Kevin Wiggins	...	Barrows
Alexa PenaVega	...	Karla
J.P. Murrieta	...	Male Announcer (as J.R. Murrieta)
Nicole Brady	...	Female Announcer
Edward McGinty	...	Williams (Judge) (as Ed McGinty)

Storyline

Four Hispanic high school students form a robotics club under the leadership of their school's newest teacher, Fredi. With no experience, 800 bucks, used car parts and a dream, this rag tag team goes up against the country's reigning robotics champion, MIT. On their journey, they learn not only how to build a robot- they learn to build a bond that will last a lifetime.

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Plot Keywords:

based on true story | roughhousing | beach | volleyball | oral examination | 

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Taglines:

It takes a team to build a dream

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some language and violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

5 June 2015 (Mexico)

Also Known As:

La Vida Robot

Filming Locations:

Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$808,022, 23 January 2015, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$3,610,933, 1 March 2015

Company Credits

Production Co:

Brookwell-McNamara Entertainment, Circle of Confusion, Indieproduction

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The MIT robot pictured in the movie is actually Carl Hayden's latest robot, the "Sovereign Falcon". This robot is an unmanned AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle). As of this movie's release, Carl Hayden's Falcon Robotics team is competing in the AUVSI / ONR RoboSub competition, a college-dominated competition in which robots must complete tasks without any human control.

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Goofs

In the beginning of the movie, after Christian gets punched in the stomach he is asked if he is okay by Luis. As Luis walks away you hear him say "careful" but his mouth is closed.

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Quotes

Awards MC: Okay folks, everybody take your seats please.

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Crazy Credits

Dedication: In loving memory of Janet Jacobs 1947 - 2015

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Connections

Features It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

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Soundtracks

Whachu Like About Me
Written by Ileana Padron
Performed by Cucu Diamantes
Published by Cuculand Music (BMI)
Produced by Andrés Levin (as Andres Levin)
Courtesy of Destina Acucum Entertainment

User Reviews

A touching story, with very little from the actors.

I found the rating of this movie to be over reaching. While the cast was an interesting blend, I just didn't feel much of the characters fit. Lopez didn't feel like he connected at all, and many of the scenes were very forced.

I really appreciate that this is a true story, but I felt the acting (or maybe the directing) was just off point. the 5 stars are simply for the story told.

I will say Esai Morales, José Julián, and Marisa Tomei did a pretty good job for their roles, they felt believable. I was surprised that Jamie Lee Curtis went for the role she did, while it was completely believable, there were some parts that had me going "really? ...why would she do that?" Carlos PenaVega was believable but the acting fell short in many cases, again forced emotions and sloppy writing for certain situations. Young actors are often caught posing and much like project almanac, often blank or shy smiling in moments that don't call for it.