Spare Parts

                  I have a thing for films about supportive teachers and teachers who have made a difference.  They give hope that no matter a person’s circumstances, things for them can improve.  That is why it is so important for these films to continue to be made.  With the way education and teachers have been bashed in the past few years, we need these films to show how important these teachers are, and how they really can make a difference.  

                All Oscar Vazquez (Carlos PenaVega) wanted to do was join the U.S. military.  There was just one problem.  Oscar is an undocumented immigrant.  Distressed over not being allowed to achieve his dream, Oscar decides to enter a collegiate robot competition despite being in high school.  He wants to do everything on his own, but his advisor, Mr. Fredi Cameron (George Lopez) tells him he needs more people on the team.

                Reluctantly, Oscar agrees to work with Cristian Arcega (David Del Rio), a boy who is always getting picked on.  Still, between the two of them, there are skills they lack.  The mechanical knowledge in particular.  This is why Mr. Cameron brings in Lorenzo Santillan (José Julián), a student who likes to break into cars.

                Even though these three students make a good team, there is one more person they need.  Someone big enough and strong enough to lift the robot.  For that, they turn to Luis Aranda (Oscar Gutierrez).  A big, tough looking guy, Luis looks like he could be mean.  In reality he is very kind and protective, as he is the person who defends Cristian when he gets picked on.

                Together these four teenage boys work together to build a robot that can operate underwater.  They must do this while dealing with difficult things happening in their personal lives.  For Oscar, it is the fact that Immigration is looking for him, forcing Oscar to go into hiding.  Lorenzo is given the task by his father of protecting his U.S. born brother who is determined to get into trouble.  Cristian has his bullies.  And Luis struggles with not being as knowledgeable or educated as the others on the team.  Still, despite what they are going through otherwise, the students come together.  With very little money they finish their robot and set it against robots from colleges, not high schools as would be expected, in a competition that many probably never believed they could enter.

                This is a great story based upon a real-life story.  There are a lot of funny parts, and Jamie Lee Curtis does a great job of being a caring but tough principal with humor.  The relationship between Mr. Cameron and fellow teacher Ms. Gwen Kolinsky (Marisa Tormei) is also a really sweet storyline, even though it doesn’t turn into a full-blown romance.

                What was sad was the revelation of what happened to one of the characters in real life.  According to the end of the film, Oscar was eventually deported, despite having spent most, if not all, of his life in the United States.  It took the support of a U.S. Senator to finally enable him to come back.  Yes, it was a happy ending for Oscar, but for so many others, they cannot say the same.