Unabashedly proud of its own weirdness whether you like or not, The (Almost) Legends falls somewhere between being a surreal comedy, a Mexican banda musical, and a racing movie without really fully committing to any one of these identities. The result is a film that thrillingly plays to the beat of its own drum, but also frequently struggles to have all of its flashiness mean something coherent and insightful. Still, while the emotions it hopes to inspire—about coming to terms with grief and taking pride in one's true self—fall somewhat flat, the film's vivid colors, meticulous production direction, and sentimental heart make this kaleidoscope consistently worth keeping an eye on.

It would be too easy to compare The (Almost) Legend's visual style to the films of Wes Anderson or to Taika Waititi's earlier work, when there's just too much specifically Mexican detail here to sink one's teeth into. The film's funniest moments often come from visual details, whether it's in the characters' outlandish costumes or the way they're arranged in a frame. But crucially, the film never exaggerates its elements in order to make fun of its own people (something that Hollywood tends to do with cultures it deems "exotic"). There's no irony to how beautiful Angello Faccini's cinematography and Irune Arancibia Alberro's art direction are—simultaneously creating a youthful fantasy world and keeping everything grounded to the humidity and cultural charm of Mexico.