'La Máquina' Series Review: A Gripping Boxing Drama with Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal
- Details
- Category: New Series and Movie Reviews
- Published: Wednesday, 16 October 2024 23:29
- Written by Lupe R Haas
Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal reunite on screen for the first time in 16 years since RUDO Y CURSI (2008), starring in the boxing thriller La Máquina. This highly anticipated project brings the two Mexican actors back together, this time in a story that begins as a sports drama but quickly evolves into a high-stakes thriller.
In La Máquina, Bernal portrays Esteban Ozuna, a seasoned Mexican boxing champion approaching retirement, while Luna plays Andy, his flamboyant manager, who is obsessed with cosmetic enhancements. Joining the duo is Eiza González as Esteban’s ex-wife, who grows increasingly concerned about his deteriorating mental condition.
Bernal and Luna thought up the concept of La Máquina and serve as executive producers for their production company, La Corriente del Golfo along with Searchlight Television. La Máquina is Hulu's first original Spanish-language series.
Though La Máquina initially presents itself as a boxing drama, it takes a darker turn when Esteban discovers that his past victories may have been rigged with the help of his manager, Andy. As he prepares for his final match, a shadowy organization contacts Andy, threatening that if Esteban doesn’t throw the fight, both their families will face deadly consequences.
The Spanish-language series starts off slow, with the first two episodes dedicated to introducing the characters and laying the groundwork for their relationships and histories. However, once the threat is introduced and the stakes rise, the Hulu series accelerates, pulling viewers into a tense narrative.
Luna and Bernal’s on-screen chemistry is undeniable, reflecting their real-life friendship. The dynamic between their characters feels natural, and their performances elevate the tension in each scene. Luna, in particular, steals the show with his portrayal of Andy, an outrageous and larger-than-life manager reminiscent of Don King. His physical transformation—complete with exaggerated facial injections—adds a bizarre yet effective layer to his character, emphasizing Andy’s eccentricity and moral ambiguity.
While La Máquina offers an engaging premise, the plot occasionally veers into implausibility. The mysterious organization pulling the strings feels overly omnipresent, seemingly able to monitor and manipulate the characters at will, yet their true identity remains concealed, leaving the narrative somewhat ungrounded.
Despite these narrative bumps, once viewers make it past the third episode, the series becomes binge-worthy, with each episode ramping up the suspense and drama. Luna and Bernal’s powerful performances, coupled with the growing intensity of the plot, make La Máquina a gripping watch for fans of both actors and lovers of thrillers alike.
All eight episodes of La Máquina are now available on Hulu.