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I originally had no idea this movie was coming out, until one night seeing another movie in the theater. I was intrigued, it looked fun and seemed to have an original plot and some very clever characters. After seeing the trailer a few times, I decided I would check this movie out. Once I did, I was surprised how poor of a job the trailers did in selling this movie. I say that because there is more to this film than you could ever imagine. It is definitely worth checking out.
The film is mostly in Spanish with English subtitles, and when the actors do speak in English there are Spanish subtitles underneath these scenes. The film begins in Mexico, with a simple man who wants to have a job, and in doing this finds out he wants to be an entertainer. One night he gets the courage to go on stage and try a bit out, but he is booed and heckled the whole time. He gets mad and talks back to one of the hecklers, and people really like it. In time this man comes up with a character known only as Cantinflas, and he becomes a big hit. This actor becomes famous and gets married and has the chance to grow in popularity as he gets jobs at bigger venues. In time, he has the chance to shoot films in Mexico and in America. In 1955, he has the chance to play a part in Around the World in 80 days, but turns it down. The man who wants to make it for Universal, Mike Todd, is having a tough time getting this film made, and is in danger of losing the picture if some progress isn’t made. He has 6 days to get this Mexican actor to show up at a press release, or he will lose his rights to the film. Will he be able to change the Mario’s mind? Does the film ever get made? And is there anyway someone could help him out?
It does a great job of not only showing the story of Mario Moreno, but also the struggles he went through in his early days as an actor. He had to work real hard, and there were many nights with little to no rest. He had to deal with racism in American film, and many other troubling things to make a name for himself. It seemed for a time no matter what he did, it was never enough for him. He wanted to be famous, and was willing to do whatever it took to reach that goal.
Oscar Jaenada does a wonderful job as Cantinflas. He is not only a gifted comedian, but he is wonderful dramatic actor too. He was made to play this character. Not once does anything he does seem forced, and whether it is a happy or a rough scene in Moreno’s life, he makes it enjoyable to watch. Michael Imperioli is great as Mike Todd. He is a simple man who just wants to make the next big blockbuster. He has a determination that makes it easy to root for him.
This film did not do well in theaters this weekend, it didn’t even make it into the top ten. I think it is just not a film American audiences are rushing out to see. Time will tell if the momentum of this film picks up or not. If you are a fan of film history, you should run out to see this movie. If you enjoy Mexican cinema, this is the film for you. It is a good film to see with friends, and you can go see it with family too. Go check this one out, it is a unique film that tells a story that everyone should hear.