Casa Bonita Documentary From South Park Creators Gets Streaming Release

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As someone who grew up with South Park and Casa Bonita being staples of my childhood, I can only applaud Trey Parker and Matt Stone for their heartwarming and slightly absurd venture. The journey they’ve embarked on to revive this cherished institution is a testament to the power of nostalgia and the lengths people will go for love… or in this case, tacos in a pirate ship.

Over the years, the animated series South Park, created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, has taken an amazing journey. However, these creators have embarked on a unique exploration that’s showcased in the new documentary titled ¡Casa Bonita Mi Amor! This film is now scheduled for digital release on October 2 via Paramount+, following a brief run in select theaters this month where it grossed $125,000. According to IndieWire.

The movie follows the efforts of Parker and Stone in rejuvenating Casa Bonita, a well-known restaurant in Lakewood, Colorado often referred to as the “Disneyland of Restaurants with a Mexican twist.” Opened in 1974, this sprawling 52,000 square foot establishment gained fame for its diverse attractions such as themed rooms, puppet shows, waterfalls, and performers dressed as gorillas to amuse patrons. Unfortunately, the restaurant faced financial difficulties due to COVID-19, resulting in its owner filing for bankruptcy, termination of employees, and a temporary shutdown.

Growing up, Casa Bonita was an essential part of Parker and Stone’s lives, so they decided to prevent its decline. They invested $40 million from their personal funds into renovating the restaurant and revitalizing the beloved establishment that held dear memories for them. Now, as the main proprietors, they are the driving force behind this venture. The documentary titled “¡Casa Bonita Mi Amor!” narrates their rollercoaster ride filled with challenges and successes, receiving positive reviews from critics such as Julian Roman of MovieWeb, who describes it as a “humorous, infuriatingly frustrating, but ultimately victorious story.

Buying Casa Bonita Was an Easy Decision for Trey Parker and Matt Stone

Instead of reminiscing about our cherished childhood spots and wanting to preserve those nostalgic emotions by spending large sums of money, it’s not usually the case. However, when Trey Parker and Matt Stone learned about Casa Bonita’s bankruptcy, their decision to purchase it was immediate and clear-cut. Recently, they discussed this new venture on NPR’s 1A, with Stone explaining their reasons for the investment.

I spoke with Trey and shared some exciting news: we might become investors in Casa Bonita. He immediately agreed, and without hesitation, he said yes, yes, yes. However, other investors dropped out along the way, leaving us as the only ones involved at the end. We then took on renovating it, discovering just how bad the state was.

Inevitably, they were unprepared, unaware of the challenges ahead, leading to frequent disagreements along the way. This tumultuous journey is meticulously captured in the extraordinary documentary titled “¡Casa Bonita Mi Amor!“, which underscores the influence of nostalgia and reveals the lengths one might go for love, when fueled by an endless pool of resources.

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2024-09-30 22:02