The reunion sensation of Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal

Twenty years after their debut together in “Y Tu Mamá También” and more than a decade after “Casa de Mi Padre,” lifelong friends Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal (both of whom serve as executive producers) have reunited on screen for Hulu’s first movie. Spanish-language series ‘La Máquina’. A gripping and compelling drama despite its manic, campy scenes, the limited series follows acclaimed boxer Esteban “La Máquina” Osuna (Bernal) as he desperately tries to define his legacy. When Esteban suffers a major stumble in the boxing ring, his best friend and manager, the stunning and Botox-loving Andy (an unrecognizable Luna), decides to take matters into his own hands. However, his solution to prolong the boxer’s career reveals long-kept secrets between the friends.

“La Máquina” opens in Las Vegas. Just minutes before Esteban’s fight against a younger boxer, Protasio (Mercito Gesta), the audience sees Andy engrossed in the glitz, glamor and women of Vegas. Meanwhile, Andy’s brother-in-law and assistant, Saúl (Andrés Delgado), desperately searches the casino kitchen for Esteban’s lucky drink, a Fresquita brand tamarind juice. Saúl’s search proves futile. Luckily, Esteban’s ex-wife and co-parent, Irasema (a brilliant Eiza González), saves the day. With his lucky potion in hand, Esteban seems prepared to face his opponent. But almost as quickly as the match starts, the 38-year-old wakes up in the back of an ambulance, with a neck brace around his head.

The story resumes in Mexico City two months after Esteban’s humiliating defeat. Dressed in a Hugh Hefner-esque 1970s wardrobe and with a face bloated by fillers, Andy is in fixation mode. With the last vestiges of his friend and client’s career on the brink of disintegration, he blackmails his way into a rematch between Esteban and Protasio. Unfortunately, Esteban is unable to return to the ring. Not only is his stamina and sobriety in precarious states, but he also has hallucinations that he keeps hidden from everyone.

Still, the rematch goes as planned, and Esteban perseveres against Protasio, earning a knockout. Even despite the hard work put in by Esteban and his trainer Sixto (Jorge Perugorría), the crowd quickly realizes that this victory was not achieved with difficulty. During the post-match celebration, Andy receives a message from Otras Personas, a nefarious criminal organization that has resolved the fight. He is warned that Esteban must lose the welterweight championship or he will die.

A lot happens in ‘La Máquina’, both for good and for bad. Although critics were given five of the six episodes to review, each episode is overloaded with information, characters and storylines. While the core story – a fractured friendship between two men, driven by their demons and vanities – remains intact, other elements, including stylistic choices and one-off characters, create a cumbersome tone.

In episode 3, “With the Fishes”, Esteban reveals Andy’s past and current dealings with Otras Personas and tries to talk his way out of the upcoming match. Unfortunately, it is not always clear whether the boxer is delusional or scheming during lucid moments. This blurriness clouds the duration of the series, confusing the story overall.

While some characters, such as a random love interest for Esteban and Andy’s Oedipal relationship with his domineering mother Josefina (Lucía Méndez), are interesting, they don’t contribute to the plot. Andy and Josefina’s scenes, including a conversation about Andy’s sex life with his wife Carlota (Karina Gidi) and his low sperm count, are hilarious. Still, they’re much more comedic than the rest of the show’s darker nature.

As the series progresses, viewers discover that the terrifying Otras Personas have been pulling the strings of Esteban’s life for longer than he ever realized. Moreover, when Irasema decides to return to her roots in journalism to root out corruption in the boxing world, she is led down a disturbing path that leads to explosive revelations about Esteban’s government, economy and youth.

Despite an unwieldy story and a sometimes confusing tone, ‘La Máquina’ has many highlights. All these years later, Luna and Berna’s on-screen chemistry remains electric, the inner workings of the boxing world are intriguing, and this story of friendship, legacy, lies and ambition makes for enjoyable television.

All six episodes of “La Máquina” premiere on Hulu on October 9.