DeVon Franklin Explores Family Bonds, Responsibility in FLAMIN’ HOT

Published: January 2, 2024

DeVon Franklin Explores Family Bonds, Responsibility in FLAMIN’ HOT

By Movieguide® Contributor

DeVon Franklin, producer of MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN and HEAVEN IS FOR REAL, opened up with Movieguide® about the importance of family and responsibility in his latest impactful motion picture, FLAMIN’ HOT.

“I think it [FLAMIN’ HOT] is going to speak to families today, and it really shows the power of family…When his [Richard Montañez’s] family came together and rallied around him, amazing things happened, and I do feel that anyone watching the film, any family watching the film will be able to take that away for themselves,” Franklin told Movieguide®.

A part of Movieguide®’s review of FLAMIN’ HOT reads:

FLAMIN’ HOT tells the life story of Richard Montañez, a Mexican American boy who becomes a very successful executive for Frito Lay by inventing flaming hot versions of Frito Lay snacks. Streaming on Hulu and Disney Plus, the movie shows Richard’s difficult life as a Mexican American living in the greater Los Angeles area. It shows how he met his future wife, Judy, and how he joined a gang as a teenager. When Judy gets pregnant in 1982, Richard gives up the gang life and gets a job at Pepsi Frito Lay. He and Judy become Christians, and Richard comes up with an idea to create flaming hot Frito products.

Franklin continued, “The introduction of family into his life also came with the responsibility and accountability in a way that he had not experienced up until that point. And the idea that he was…living for more than just himself and that he needed to, you know, get his life straight and that he needed to make sacrifices for his family.”

Franklin previously told Deadline that he was amazed at Montañez‘s story when he learned of it in 2017. Montañez had so much heart and loyalty to his family but also for Pepsi Frito Lay, which made Franklin want to tell his story for him.

“Richard, even to this day, is seen with a Pepsi bottle in his hand,” Franklin said.

One main theme of FLAMIN’ HOT is Montañez’s success story as a Latino. Franklin shared what he hopes the Latin American community can take from FLAMIN’ HOT. He wants them to understand that “The movie is real.”

“I mean, the number one priority is to make sure that telling a story featuring a Latino family [is done] right,” Franklin explained. “So you know, anyone in that community, any family in that community seeing the film, I want them [to] say, ‘Wow, that was real. That was authentic. They got our story right,’ and then they’re so compelled by it, they want to tell others about it.”

In the interview, Franklin sat in front of a wall with photos of Jackie Robinson and others with inspiring stories.

When asked if he would produce movies about Robinson and the others depicted, Franklin said, “I would be honored to produce all of these true stories I mean, shoot, that would be amazing. I would love that. Nothing will make me happier than to be able to do that, so you know, we’ll see. You know, if God intends, but my intent is to continue to make uplifting true stories that can work for families all around the world.”

Check out Movieguide®’s full interview with Franklin below: