South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone fall headfirst into a money pit after purchasing a treasured theme restaurant from their youth. ¡Casa Bonita Mi Amor! tells the funny, maddeningly frustrating, and eventually triumphant tale after spending an eye-popping fortune. Casa Bonita, a 50,000 square foot gaudy Mexican eatery fashioned after a Disneyland village, opened in 1974 Lakewood, Colorado, to fanfare and acclaim. It became a beloved institution before falling into disrepair and mismanagement, ultimately closing during the pandemic. Filmmaker Arthur Bradford documents Parker and Stone’s rescue efforts. What begins as a straightforward renovation spirals to calamity with hopes and dreams running into a brick wall of reality.
¡Casa Bonita Mi Amor! opens in 2012 with footage of Trey and Matt taking their families to the restaurant for a night of fun. Trey, who absolutely adored Casa Bonita as a child, comments it smells like “chlorine and beans” with a laugh. Everyone has a great time marveling at the divers plunging into an artificial rock pool, Black Bart being chased by a goofy sheriff, and unappetizing Mexican food being churned out on a greasy conveyor belt. They casually mock the dirty carpet and obvious signs of wear and tear in the mammoth, sprawling complex.
Nine years later, Casa Bonita is shuttered in bankruptcy with all of its employees terminated. Trey laments its closing as a tragic loss for the community’s children. He named South Park’s California offices after the restaurant. A little digging reveals it’s for sale at auction. Trey convinces Matt, who handles all of their money, to buy Casa Bonita for $3.1 million dollars. They’ll fix the place, hire everyone back, and have a grand reopening. It’ll be a win-win for them and the entire state. Trey and Matt announce the glorious news during a press event with Colorado Governor Jared Polis. Heroes have come to save the day. What could possibly go wrong?
The Creators of South Park Purchase an Epic Disaster
Trey and Matt bought Casa Bonita as is. They assumed there would be some problems, but, drum roll please, didn’t have the property inspected before purchasing. Bradford, known primarily for his South Park documentary 6 Days to Air, captures the dumbfounded reaction of Scott Shoemaker, the project’s construction manager, as he walks into Casa Bonita and sees the epic disaster they’ve inherited.
Not only was every operational system held together with buckets, tape, and wires, but the place was a deathtrap. It’s a miracle no one had been electrocuted in the pool. They’d never pass a safety review without rebuilding the entire facility. Scott’s video call to Trey and Matt with a new, exponentially higher cost estimate is the stuff nightmares are made of.
¡Casa Bonita Mi Amor! fascinates on multiple levels. The nuts and bolts dilemmas are mind-boggling, but the exploration of Trey and Matt’s incredibly successful partnership stands out as a highlight. To be clear, they’re not paupers, and could afford to build dozens of Casa Bonitas if so desired. Their collective net worth easily eclipses a billion dollars. But they sure as hell didn’t expect a hefty $3.1 million to balloon substantially. You’ll have to watch to find out the final cost. It’s a staggering amount that calls into question – why not just quit and take the humbling loss?
Trey and Matt have never compromised their artistic vision. Casa Bonita wasn’t meant to be a profitable endeavor. Trey genuinely loved the restaurant and couldn’t imagine a world where his daughter couldn’t enjoy the experience. They didn’t bargain for this mess but weren’t going to give up. Casa Bonita was a part of Trey’s childhood that deserved a second chance. Watching them accept financial disaster is a beautiful lesson in the value of friendship. Matt clearly understands Trey’s sincere motivation. Casa Bonita’s resurgence was instrumental to his happiness.
Trey Parker & Matt Stone Butt Heads in Bonita
Bradford’s second act gets to the details with fraught anxiety. Casa Bonita had to stay true to its original themes, but must be updated for modern sensibilities. Trey wanted visitors to learn about Mexican culture. He becomes more hands-on than ever imagined, and ruffles feathers aplenty along the way. His micromanagement and demand for excellence strains relationships. We see Trey’s comedic good nature showing flashes of anger when expensive upgrades don’t meet his approval.
Matt, who’s more even-keeled and pragmatic throughout, also has to balance their commitment to South Park and other shows with Casa Bonita’s never-ending issues. It’s a delicate waltz of hurt feelings and tension with Colorado news outlets and an army of Casa Bonita fans literally waiting outside for doors to open.
Casa Bonita Mi Amor Has a Thoughtful Culinary Climax
Good generals know how to inspire troops and execute a winning battle strategy. Trey’s decision to hire Dana “Loca” Rodriguez, an award-winning local chef and firebrand motivator, to handle the new menu and operations was an inspired choice. Her frank assessments regarding procedures, tasty food choices, and take no prisoners attitude shines a desperately needed ray of optimism. Everyone could finally see the finish line, despite seemingly insurmountable problems. Casa Bonita was a mission to reclaim lost glory. Their collective teamwork lifts spirits in a heartwarming way.
Trey and Matt skewered the Casa Bonita debacle in South Park’s 324th episode, hilariously titled “DikinBaus Hot Dogs.” Laughter is always the best medicine. ¡Casa Bonita Mi Amor! has a thoughtful climax when the restaurant finally reopened to rave reviews in May 2023. Trey’s response to a moment that was years in the making is truly profound. A hard fought dream had finally come true, but letting go for others to enjoy was bittersweet.
¡Casa Bonita Mi Amor! is a production of MTV Documentary Films and Sweet Relief Productions. It is currently in limited theatrical release with an upcoming streaming premiere on Paramount+.
