Product Details

• Actors: Maria Conchita Alonso, Lupe Amador, Angelina Estrada, Jenny Gago, Nicholas Gonzalez
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rated: G (General Audience)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Showtime Ent.
• VHS Release Date: April 9, 2002
• Run Time: 93 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005V9KJ
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #383,912 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Sirena (Marisol Nichols) is a wealthy 15-year-old who lives in Los Angeles with her widowed father, Nestor (Edward James Olmos), and brother, Joseph. Sol (Nicholas Gonzalez) lives in East L.A. with his extended family. He's a scholarship student at her private school, and they’re both on the swim team. They're attracted to each other, but Sirena can't imagine dating Sol (despite his good looks)--and nor can her shopping-obsessed friends. Meanwhile, Nestor is planning to marry the gold-digging Minerva (Maria Conchita Alonzo). The kids can't stand her, but their father is too blinded by love to see the truth. Produced for Showtime by Jon Voight, The Princess and the Barrio Boy is about people who lose touch with their roots when they leave the old neighborhood behind. Sol serves to remind Sirena and Nestor that it will always be a part of them. For ages 10 and up. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Better than I expected..., April 14, 2002

By 

Kyralessa (St Louis, MO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Princess and the Barrio Boy (DVD)

My wife rented this, but unlike some of her other choices, I actually watched to the end. The broad outlines of the story are a typical girl meets boy-from-wrong-side-of-the-tracks love story, but there are a few surprises and a few laughs along the way. Other than a few absurdly over-the-top performances (Sirena's friends, and Pauly Shore) the cast is competent and enjoyable to watch. So if you're thinking of renting, it's worth seeing once. Cute story.

If you're thinking of buying the DVD, though, note that it's probably overpriced. There's no main title screen. The DVD starts with ads for other films that you can fast forward through but can't skip entirely, and there's no main title screen at all; the movie just starts right in after the ads are done. In addition, while the movie is full-frame, fitting for a made-for-TV movie, there's an annoying line of artifacts at the top of the screen through the whole thing.

To sum up: A decent rent, but a terrible buy.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Feel Good Movie, December 6, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Princess & Barrio Boy [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This was such a feel-good and heartwarming film. It was so nice to finally view a movie with strong emphasis on family values. I highly recommend this movie for every member of the family.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable for the whole family! Great for high school viewing!, October 3, 2005

By 

Ivy Jolie "Gigi" (Tucson, Arizona) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Princess and the Barrio Boy (DVD)

Wonderfully acted, entertaining story about a young girl mourning the death of her mother and trying to come to terms with dad's (Edward James Olmos) new girlfriend. (The delightfully wicked Maria Conchita Alonso.) A funny, light comedy the whole family can watch. It is also a great film to show in a high school class, it will encourage dialogue about classism, racism, and interestingly, how members of the same minority group can judge each other so harshly. Top notch acting, beautifully filmed. Rent it or buy it! It is well worth it. Kudos to Tony Plana (he's appeared in An Officer and a Gentleman, Sweet 15) for directing this engaging film.