John Leguizamo’s Revelatory Latin History For Morons

The movies have never quite known what to do with the electric, mercurial talent of John Leguizamo. With rare exception (notably Summer of Sam, To Wong Foo, and Chef), Leguizamo has seldom caught the kind of roles that match his skill level.

Which is why I’ve always been so thankful for his one man shows. Starting with Mambo Mouth in 1991, and followed by Spic-O-Rama, Freak, Sexaholix, and Ghetto Klown, these five stage performances mix comedy, drama, culture, biography, and some spectacular dancing to produce a record of extraordinary insight into not only Leguizamo’s life, but also of the Latino experience in America.

With his latest show, Latin History For Morons (Netflix), he doubles down on that last virtue. His previous five shows leaned more heavily on his own personal experience as a Latino growing up in New York, Latin History For Morons turns its eye outward and back in time.

The new special still folds in Leguizamo’s difficult childhood, his struggles with parenting, and depression, but it uses that base to deliver one of the most entertaining history lessons you will ever see. Stemming from his son’s efforts to find a Latino hero for a school report, Leguizamo finds himself on an excursion into the history of his culture.

Stepping on the stage in semi-cool professor garb, surrounded by books, and standing before a large blackboard, Leguizamo doesn’t just cover the history of Latinos in modern America, he goes back to the rise and fall of the Incas and the Mayans with verve and drama. Leguizamo throws out facts that are all the more extraordinary because they should be in the average American History text book, but are not. A truth you will likely find embarrassing when thinking back on your school days.

The ancient worlds of the Maya and the Inca were steeped in math, science, art, and architecture. They had pyramids, aqueducts, and complex social structures. Hell, they invented an early version of basketball. All things you never learn about in our K-12 school systems.

If these “revelations” were all Latin History For Morons were to share with us, that would be a major accomplishment. It does that, but so much more. By personalizing the experience through his son, Leguizamo has made a history lesson artistic, entertaining, and deeply moving. And lest you question its relevance to current day, at one point Leguizamo references the colonization of much of what is now known as Latin America. He references these noble civilizations being forced into cages. Then he pauses and says, “Thank god we don’t do that anymore.” And it cuts like a knife.

At the show’s climax, Leguizamo performs his son’s speech on his Latin hero from his middle school graduation service. I am a person who cries over nothing other than stuff with dogs – seriously, anything with dogs reduces me to a puddle. But I’ll be damned if when Leguizamo as his son reveals who his hero is that my chin didn’t quiver.

Latino History For Morons is not Leguizamo’s funniest show. It’s not his most comparatively energetic either (although still insanely energetic). The subject matter doesn’t quite permit it. One might argue that it’s not his best show. That’s a matter of taste. But I defy anyone to argue it isn’t his most important.