A Mexican YouTube Classic: “Edgar Se Cae”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b89CnP0Iq30&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

Edgar Se Cae, a video about a chubby Mexican boy who falls into a creek while shrieking, “No guey!”, is a Mexican YouTube phenomenon. Nearly 17 million people have watched the original video since it debuted in 2006. This month Chilango magazine included the video on its list of most memorable moments of the decade.

Edgar spoofs abound on YouTube. There’s a Donkey Kong version, a Super Mario Brothers version and a Mortal Kombat version. There are Edgar Se Cae cartoons. My favorite one ends with Edgar waddling out of the creek, little blue pools beneath his eyes. “Pobre niño gordo,” a caption reads. (“Poor little fat boy.”)

My friend Jesica showed the original video to us a couple of months ago. I thought it was funny, but not 17-million-views funny. Then I looked at it several times this morning, and found myself giggling. Edgar’s friend coaxes him across the creek, and then forces Edgar to fall. SPLASH! Oh god, watch it again.

Seriously, it’s a story of the underdog. Mexican’s aren’t just laughing at Edgar — well, they are, especially when his “no guey!” and “ya guey!” shrieks get progressively louder — they’re laughing at how sometimes, the skinnier, stronger guy gets the leg up, and there’s nothing they can do about it.

Also, sometimes kids are just plain mean.