A small town musician pushes to carve out a place for himself in the new wave of Mexican-American music after a clip of him performing one of his songs goes viral.
In the debut feature from trailblazing music producer Jimmy Humilde’s production company Rancho Humilde, aspiring small-town musician Chito (Mexican-American singer-songwriter JayDee, in his first film role) dreams of breaking into the music industry. When his drug-running uncle offers him a taste of success, Chito uses it to save his mother’s home and finally live a life outside of poverty. And when a video of him performing one of his original songs unexpectedly goes viral, Chito is thrust into the fast-moving, high-stakes world of the new wave of Mexican-American music. Determined to capitalize on his sudden fame, he dives headfirst into the industry, chasing success and throwing caution to the wind.
But as opportunities grow, so do the risks. What begins as a promising rise quickly pulls Chito into a far more dangerous game than he ever anticipated, one where loyalty, identity, and survival are constantly tested. Along the way, he encounters a colorful and volatile cast of characters, portrayed by a notable supporting lineup including Eric Roberts, Peter Greene (in his final, posthumously released performance), and rap icon Percy “Master P” Miller.
Directed by Michael Greene, the film blends music, drama, and suspense into a story about family, tradition, and self-discovery. As Chito’s journey intensifies, he is ultimately forced to confront the consequences of his choices and decide what he’s willing to sacrifice to pursue his dream.
The film is sophomoric, rife with clichés, and replete with extremely dubious logic. Case in point: Chito is at one point making $70,000 a month running marijuana for his uncle, an eyebrow-raising figure that undercuts any sense of realism. When his lies and life start to unravel, JayDee’s acting abilities struggle to keep up, and the movie takes some truly bizarre twists and tonal shifts in the final act.
Still, at a relatively brisk 83-minute runtime, “Clika” offers enough energy and musical authenticity to remain watchable. Fans of Spanish-language music will find something to enjoy. I still found the message of “Don’t get rich selling drugs, get rich being a star musician, that’s the legit play” extremely questionable.
Now available on DVD
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