"Mexican wave" stars back together for new movie

Mexican actors Gael Garcia Bernal (R) and Diego Luna wave to fans after a friendly soccer match in Cihuatlan Manzanillo, in the Mexican state of Colima, June 15, 2007. Gael and Luna are in Manzanillo working a new film, ''Rudo y Cursi''. The film is directed by Carlos Cuaron.

CIHUATLAN, Mexico (Reuters) - With bearhugs, wisecracks and peals of laughter, the dream team of "Mexican Wave" film stars is back together working on its first joint celluloid production in six years.

The new film, "Rudo y Cursi," is being shot on Mexico's steamy Pacific coast and brings together a star-studded group that includes actors Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna, who will hit the screen together for the first time since "Y Tu Mama Tambien" in 2001.

A comedy-drama, "Rudo y Cursi" broadly translated as "Rough and Corny," is a tale of love and hate between professional soccer-playing brothers played by Luna and Garcia Bernal.

"It's the family reunited to work together," said co-producer Alfonso Cuaron, who made "Y Tu Mama Tambien," a sexually charged tale of friendship and rivalry that was nominated for an Oscar and helped thrust a new generation of Mexican film talent into the global spotlight.

Cuaron's brother Carlos directs "Rudo y Cursi" and the other co-producer is old friend Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, director of last year's Oscar-winning "Babel."

Inarritu, Alfonso Cuaron and fellow Mexican Guillermo del Toro, who directed last year's "Pan's Labyrinth," recently formed a production company that will make five films in a $100 million deal with Universal Pictures. "Rudo y Cursi" is the first film in the package.

In 2006, the three directors made a major impact at the Academy Awards. "Babel" was nominated for seven Oscars, including best picture and best director. It won for best original score. "Pan's Labyrinth" won three Academy Awards and was nominated for three others, and Alfonso Cuaron's "Children of Men" received three nominations.

'TELEPATHIC'

The members of the group says familiarity helps them understand each other's ideas.

"This family now comes with its own telepathic communication, which is very interesting," Garcia Bernal said.

Filming started three weeks ago in the small coastal town of Cihuatlan, close to a banana plantation owned by the Cuaron family that the brothers visited as children.

The cast and crew clearly enjoyed each other's company, indulging in jokes and banter and playing a charity soccer match against a local team at the town's palm-tree fringed stadium on Friday.

Garcia Bernal ripped off his shirt and performed a somersault after scoring a goal.

While few details of "Rudo y Cursi" have been made public, fans of "Tambien" can probably hope for something in a similar vein.

"Gael and Diego are once again exploring the same themes of rivalry," said Gonzalez Inarritu.

((Editing by Peter Cooney; Reuters Messaging: frank.daniel.reuters.com@reuters.net, Mexico City newsroom +52 55 5282 7153)