‘La Máquina’: Mexican Boxing Romp Is Fueled by the Charisma of Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal

Alci Rengifo

Like any other genre, sports stories tend to have their own preset clichés. Boxing in particular is all about underdogs and big chances. Hulu’s “La Máquina” (Spanish for “The Machine”) reunites Mexican actors Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal, known to be real tight buddies, for a boxing drama that refreshes a lot of familiar clichés with liveliness. There’s nothing new about fights being rigged, people being made to take falls and the inevitable involvement of the criminal underworld. What’s rare is to have a full series like this mostly in Spanish and not be an import, with an authentic portrayal of specific sectors of Mexican culture. 

Bernal is Esteban “La Máquina” Osuna, an aging Mexican lightweight champ feeling his glory days are behind him. His high-strung manager is Andy (Luna), who makes sure Esteban’s backstage rituals (including a particular brand of tamarind drink) are all set. Tragically, the boxer’s latest fight results in getting knocked out during the first round. Desperate to save their enterprise, Andy plays some old tricks and arranges a fresh bout while trying to bribe officials to make sure Esteban’s weight is declared just right. Esteban wins the fight and the pair seems on track to reclaim respect. Then, Andy starts receiving messages from an ominous group that once helped him fix Esteban’s early fights. They are demanding payback or the boxer and manager will soon be dead.

Showrunner Marco Ramirez, of Netflix’s “Daredevil,” and director Gabriel Ripstein, a veteran of “Narcos,” seem to be having fun with a lot of inside jokes. “La Máquina” acts like it should be taken seriously while also satirizing classic boxing tropes. Esteban generates empathy, with a working class Mexican twang, despite Bernal clearly not having the actual physique of a professional boxer. Diego Luna is a more convincing transformation under layers of makeup that makes him look like a botox fiend. Both fill the screen with plenty of charisma, Luna chomping the scenery as a manic, increasingly paranoid manager. He’s absolutely hilarious when begging a mysterious voice over the phone to cut him some slack, negotiating with a Brazilian fellow manager or having contorted, rough sex with his wife. It’s the kind of verve Andy needs to be our tour guide through the posh yet corrupt workings of Mexico City’s elite corners. The cuss word “cabron” is his mantra. 

Well shot with a soundtrack featuring vintage and contemporary Latin pop and rock, “La Máquina” is so energetic it at times leaves behind characters and plot points. Room is made for expected revelations like Esteban being warned about emerging health concerns after his brain has taken years of punches. He sees hallucinations of empty, ruined boxing rings and hears voices that seem to be memories from the past. At the same time, he meets a local dancer (Dariam Coco) who promises a second shot at love, introducing him to the city’s artsy circles. Yet, she virtually disappears by the fifth episode. Eiza González makes up for the absence as Irasema, Esteban’s younger ex-wife and mother of their child, who gets back into journalism when she begins to suspect there’s a conspiracy underway to rig fights. Yes, it is definitely another sports cliché, but as with everything else in this show, it works because of the execution.

Bernal and Luna have been working together for over 20 years now, going back to their unforgettable pairing in Alfonso Cuarón’s great “Y Tu Mamá También.” This fact gives the work here such a natural flow, with genuine heart when Andy confronts Esteban over the truth about their career together. Esteban becomes a tragic, middle-aged athlete who doesn’t seem to fully realize how much of his career was fixed. Andy clearly cares for him but is tired of also playing dad to a man who is itching to just enjoy life for once. In terms of Latino representation, it would be great to see an expansion of themes and content. Gangsters and boxers are sadly still the most acceptable stories for the big studios, while shows like “Vida” get axed too early. On the other hand, anyone anywhere likes to root for a fighter trying to climb back up. Sports are a universal constant in any corner of the globe. “La Máquina” is a fun return to the ring, powered by two friends who flawlessly know how to play around.

“La Máquina” begins streaming Oct. 9 on Hulu.