How to Be a Latin Lover (2017)

Gotta say, most Mexican comedy leaves me completely cold. Cultural thing, I guess; just seems so infantile. But I've been a major Derbez fan for over 20 years, since the days when I used to stay up to watch Al derecho y al Derbez on UNI. And he doesn't disappoint here, either. Latin Lover has his acid commentary on American culture, his trademark self-mocking (nobody can ring in a totally committed performance of an essentially reprehensible character like Eugenio, and make you love him in spite of yourself), and his wild, eccentric sense of humour. He's the Monty Python of Mexico, and that's a very good thing. Latin Lover is basically a Mexican movie made (mostly) in English. They even film "American" scenes in Mexican locations, which is awesome! How many times do we see Hollywood movies trying to pass off American or Canadian settings as other countries? Eugenio strikes again. That said, people who aren't familiar with Mexican comedic conventions will find some things "hokey". (I assure you the comedy of your nation is just as hokey, you've just been trained to accept it.) Those same people will probably also fail to note how groundbreaking Derbez is, with his adult-pitched gags, his razor-sharp irony, and his calm, cerebral delivery. People should have to watch 30 hours of non-Derbez Mexican comedy before they're allowed to have an opinion of Eugenio Derbez. He's a great comic by any standard; compared to typical Mexican fare he's a freakin' genius. Anyway, see the movie. It's fluff. It's meant to be fluff. It's talented, entertaining fluff. Have fun. Don't take it so seriously. You'll have fun. Oh, and to the woman who rated it low because "so much of the movie is in Spanish and I don't speak Spanish"...The Spanish bits are subtitled. All of them. In English.So that's my advice: accept another culture's comedic conventions; relish Eugenio Derbez' respect for his audience and fellow performers; and, uh... learn to read. And you'll like this movie.

My wife and I watched this on DVD from our public library. It has a rather low IMDb rating and I wasn't expecting much but it surprised me, it is very well made and very entertaining. A few of the sight gags fell flat for me but I'd say 75% of it worked.The opening scene sets the tone when we see the Mexican dad of little Maximo and Sara die in an accident. I won't spoil the details but I will describe it after "SPOILERS" at the end of my comments. Anyway seeing how his hard-working dad died just like that little 11-yr-old Maximo decides he wants a different life, he intends to find a wealthy older woman to marry so that he can live a life of luxury.The story cuts to 10 years later in California and an attractive, athletic Maximo in a skimpy swim suit finds his target at a resort. (In an interesting casting choice the actor is the 21-yr-old son of the actor who plays Maximo at age 46.)So cut to 25 years later and Maximo is a somewhat out-of-shape 46 (actor is 50-something) and with his elderly wife of 25 years he leads a life of luxury, has lots of expensive cars, has servants do everything for him. Until his wife finds a younger man and the prenup means Maximo is out on the street with nothing.So most of the story starts here, Maximo needs a place to stay while he hunts for his next wealthy wife, he looks up his sister Sara after all those years, meets his nephew Hugo. His life now really does become a comedy of errors and missteps. The movie works for several reasons. The first is director Ken Marino who keeps it all in a somewhat sympathetic manner, the bad people here aren't really that bad. Second the acting and comic timing of Eugenio Derbez who plays the 46-yr-old Maximo. And third the large number of friends of Marino who agreed to take roles in this movie. The main one is Salma Hayek who is really great as his adult sister Sara. And young Raphael Alejandro as Hugo who is mentored by uncle Maximo on how to be suave and get the girls.A very entertaining comedy for those in the mood for this type of entertainment.SPOILERS: In the opening scene it is made clear that Maximo's dad always said "You get what you work for, not what you wish for." He drove a truck and was gone often but this day Maximo and Sara, along with their mom, are waiting outside for dad as he drove his truck towards their home. But he was falling asleep, he crashed into the house as the family members scrambled to safety and went all the way through it. After a very short sigh of relief the fuel truck exploded with dad still inside. That set the tone for the rest of the movie, a bit dark, but comedic, on the slightly absurd side.

My daughter wanted to watch this and the characters and story were so fun and engaging I ended up having a blast. Salma is as always superb and lovely. Eugenio was a riot, funny lovable and useless. The story was completely original and very funny which is rare.Hollywood would like to think they have the corner on the world but truth be told Hollywood is run by the demographic committees. Thats what makes films like this one, so superb. Its just good fun with great characters a little lesson and a perfect ending.I would even watch it again (don't tell anyone I said that)

In the bonus segment of the DVD of "How to Be a Latin Lover," the producers describe how the project was originally intended as a television sit com called "Trophy Wife." While the movie still has the feel of a television program, it was nonetheless adapted effectively into a lively though uneven film comedy.The strength of the film was in the sight gags as we follow the travails of the likable loser Maximo, a gigolo on the loose in Los Angeles. Eugenio Derbez is good as the loser, who takes advantage of his sister for a home base for him to pursue his exploits as a gold digger.The secondary characters in the film are well developed, especially the manager of a yogurt store played by Kristen Bell. Her bonding with Maximo provides one of the best subplots of the film. Salma Hayak is good as the sister, and Raquel Welch is a standout as the dowager pursued by Maximo.While the dialogue was often erratic and uninspired, the visual appearance of the film was filled with extremely colorful location filming in Los Angeles. In the extra section of the DVD, director Ken Merino indicated that the production team took advantage of a rare tax break for an extended film shoot in L.A. The Echo Park location and a wonderful mansion were two of the most memorable scenic backdrops. The pink dollhouse was a creative and well-executed visual metaphor for the fantasy life pursued by Maximo.In the bonus commentary, actor Eugenio Derbez described one of his favorite scenes where he plunged into a swimming pool covered in make-up, as he tries to impress his sugar mommy. It turns out that the make-up dissolves in the pool, leading to Maximo's banishment from the premises. There was also the motif of the "sexy walk" in which Maximo attempts to demonstrate some swagger to his young nephew; a number of Echo Park bystanders join in for the fun. In another memorable scene, Maximo and his sister sing and dance the salsa.At those moments when the writers ran out of ideas, the energy level dissipated with the lackluster dialogue. The bonus segment includes a set of deleted scenes, many of which would have infused life into the film at key junctures. There were some very talented film artists involved in this film. Kudos especially to the costume designer and cinematographer.