No se Aceptan Devoluciones (Instructions Not Included)
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| "So, is this why it took nine months to arrive?" |
One of the best Mexican movies ever made, literally.
This 2013 film directed, produced and also co-written by Eugenio Derbéz was produced to stand out as a different product from what Derbéz has done in the past, considering his comedian roles for what he is famous for.
I was somewhat curious about this film because it came preceded by good reviews which was for me unexpected considering that Derbéz is not really a movie actor and he is usually seen on several TV shows that he himself creates and produces. In that aspect, the creative aspect, it is understandable that this production of his has met great success because Mr. Derbéz is really a creative machine and a wonderful comedian.
It is true that Instructions Not Included is essentially a comedy but has a lot of other elements that put it under other labels as well. For instance it is also a movie about human, in particular family, values. Valentín (Eugenio Derbéz), the main character evolves from a good-for-nothing don juan to a caring and loving father who knows that one day his daughter will be taken away from him and there is just nothing he can do to change that but until that day he will continue working and providing a life of happiness to the little girl that changed his life forever.
Valentín lives in Acapulco and ares for nothing and just wants to continue having a good time for the rest of his life. One day one of his former "dates", an American called Julie (Jessica Lindsey) shows up at his doorstep with a baby girl that she claims is his. She also says she and keep the baby and leaves the baby with Valentín practically running away back to the States. Valentín who knows no English and has no visa manages to cross the border illegally carrying the baby. Thanks to a photo of Julie in her last job Valentín finds out Julie's last workplace in Los Angeles but she is not there. After a confusing incident, Valentín decides to keep the baby called Maggie (Loreto Peralta) and befriends a movie director called Frank (Daniel Raymont) who in turn hires Valentín as a stuntman for most of his movies. Time passes and the relationship between Valentín and Maggie becomes stronger and then Julie decides to show up to meet the daughter she left long ago and to then take her away from Valentín.
This movie has been criticized for the weak performances of the secondary actors. After seeing the movie I accept there is a little bit of that but only a little bit. The movie is consistent, well-paced and the image and sound are of pretty good quality. There are great moments of humor that can easily be understood by Spanish speakers (the movie is in Spanish) and English speakers alike. Derbéz is just great and shows that he is not only a comedian but there are many other aspects he still has to show.
Still what I liked the most was not the movie itself but the capacity to trick the audience into believing that everything was said and done. The reality is that you knew the truth partially but then you find out you were wrong and inexorable witness the bittersweet ending , same as the beginning,narrated by Derbez as Valentín.
Five stars out of five.
This 2013 film directed, produced and also co-written by Eugenio Derbéz was produced to stand out as a different product from what Derbéz has done in the past, considering his comedian roles for what he is famous for.
I was somewhat curious about this film because it came preceded by good reviews which was for me unexpected considering that Derbéz is not really a movie actor and he is usually seen on several TV shows that he himself creates and produces. In that aspect, the creative aspect, it is understandable that this production of his has met great success because Mr. Derbéz is really a creative machine and a wonderful comedian.
It is true that Instructions Not Included is essentially a comedy but has a lot of other elements that put it under other labels as well. For instance it is also a movie about human, in particular family, values. Valentín (Eugenio Derbéz), the main character evolves from a good-for-nothing don juan to a caring and loving father who knows that one day his daughter will be taken away from him and there is just nothing he can do to change that but until that day he will continue working and providing a life of happiness to the little girl that changed his life forever.
Valentín lives in Acapulco and ares for nothing and just wants to continue having a good time for the rest of his life. One day one of his former "dates", an American called Julie (Jessica Lindsey) shows up at his doorstep with a baby girl that she claims is his. She also says she and keep the baby and leaves the baby with Valentín practically running away back to the States. Valentín who knows no English and has no visa manages to cross the border illegally carrying the baby. Thanks to a photo of Julie in her last job Valentín finds out Julie's last workplace in Los Angeles but she is not there. After a confusing incident, Valentín decides to keep the baby called Maggie (Loreto Peralta) and befriends a movie director called Frank (Daniel Raymont) who in turn hires Valentín as a stuntman for most of his movies. Time passes and the relationship between Valentín and Maggie becomes stronger and then Julie decides to show up to meet the daughter she left long ago and to then take her away from Valentín.
This movie has been criticized for the weak performances of the secondary actors. After seeing the movie I accept there is a little bit of that but only a little bit. The movie is consistent, well-paced and the image and sound are of pretty good quality. There are great moments of humor that can easily be understood by Spanish speakers (the movie is in Spanish) and English speakers alike. Derbéz is just great and shows that he is not only a comedian but there are many other aspects he still has to show.
Still what I liked the most was not the movie itself but the capacity to trick the audience into believing that everything was said and done. The reality is that you knew the truth partially but then you find out you were wrong and inexorable witness the bittersweet ending , same as the beginning,narrated by Derbez as Valentín.
Five stars out of five.
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