“Flamin' Hot” marks director Eva Longoria's debut in a narrative film, and according to a CNN article, while the result is “the kind of mildly tasty cinematic snack that doesn’t exactly stick to your ribs”, the film can’t escape familiar and predictable formulas. Inspired by the true story of Richard Montañez, a janitor at Frito-Lay’s Rancho Cucamonga factory when he dreamed of a pepper covered Cheeto and believed in himself enough to call the chief executive to come up with his spicy idea. The film chronicles his journey to overcome racial and class adversity and harness his Mexican American heritage to explore an underserved community.

The narrative follows the trajectory of Montañez, played by Jesse Garcia, as he struggles to climb the company's executive ranks, enlisting the help of a stern mentor played by Dennis Haysbert and an open door provided by PepsiCo's CEO, played by Tony Shalhoub. The story is set in the 1980s and features broader themes about Montañez's self-taught career and the cultural forces at work at the time.

However, one issue the film doesn't address is the fact that Montañez wasn't the true creator of the Flamin' Hot Cheetos, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. This raises doubts about the veracity of the events depicted and calls into question the film’s approach to the facts. Frito-Lay, in response to the newspaper, tried to downplay Montañez’s role in the product's development, calling his story an “urban legend”. This adds a layer of ambiguity to the narrative presented in the film.

Despite this controversy, Eva Longoria strives to bring the material to life, portraying the pressures Montañez faced at work and at home, including his own father's skepticism. Yet even with the competent performances, it's hard to escape the fact that “Flamin’ Hot” follows an extremely familiar formula where obstacles only prolong the inevitable outcome, right up to the threat that Montañez’s factory might close if he doesn’t do something to impress his superiors.

The film attempts to address broader questions about companies’ lack of understanding of neglected market segments by highlighting corporate blindness. However, it does not go beyond this central point and does not dive deeper into the social and cultural implications of these problems. The focus on Montañez’s trajectory of individual success, while inspiring, does not offer a full exploration of the structural challenges faced by marginalized communities.

“Flamin' Hot” has a cultural appeal, with Montañez’s story highlighting the importance of representation and overcoming obstacles. However, the film also falls into a genre that is less and less present on movie screens and television stations, with its predictable and familiar narrative. Eva Longoria is currently known for her food/travel series “Eva Longoria: Searching for Mexico”.