Movie spotlights: 'Casa de mi Padre' and 'Sing Your Song'

CASA DE MI PADRE

Will Ferrell has starred in some exceedingly odd comedies but nothing as flat-out loco as "Casa de mi Padre" (★★★ out of four stars, R for bloody violence, language, some sexual content and drug use). The entire film is in Spanish, and Ferrell plays the black-sheep son of a Mexican patriarch who crosses paths with a murderous baddie (Gael Garcia Bernal). There are even stranger things in store, from a wedding massacre in which the shotgunned guests spout ridiculous fountains of blood, to a mystical Bengal tiger (played by an awesome stuffed animal) who becomes Armando's Yoda. "Casa de mi Padre" spoofs telenovelas and grindhouse B-movies with a plot that involves Armando falling in love with the woman (Genesis Rodriguez) engaged to marry his brother (Diego Luna). Ferrell, who learned his dialogue phonetically, acquits himself admirably in a foreign language. But hearing him shout "Alejate! O te doy una paliza con estas manos!" is a lot funnier if you speak Spanish -- and much less so if you're stuck reading subtitles. - RENE RODRIGUEZ, Miami Herald

SING YOUR SONG

Harry Belafonte was arguably postwar America's most popular black entertainer. His 1956 album "Calypso" was the first LP to sell over 1 million copies and his long-running career as a movie star was just beginning. For the next half-century Belafonte used his fame to advance causes near to his heart, whether they were popular or controversial. In the documentary "Sing Your Song" (unrated) he reflects on his career in music, politics and activism. We see Belafonte fundraising for the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., lobbying for release of imprisoned Nelson Mandela and joining other stars to raise money to ease famine in Africa. Even now, the film shows, the 84-year-old activist is still at the ramparts, pushing for change. -COLIN COVERT