Raising Victor Vargas (2002)

This movie started off in a very weird way. However, throughout the whole movie you realize that this really is how raising a latino kid can be sometimes. (Not all the time). It also shows the evolution of maturity of a young man growing up in New York. He takes it upon himself to change his ways even though it took many situations to actually get him to change. And as for Judy, at the end she begins to reevaluate herself to see if she even likes Victor and what is she really looking for. Did she like Victor or need him? Overall, I think this movie is pretty good. Also, has many humorous moments some might enjoy.

Victor is a brash teen who sees himself as a player. His younger sister Vicki catches him with neighbor Fat Donna and tells everyone. At the pool with best friend Harold, he tries to talk up Judy but she won't have any part of him. She's there with best friend Melonie and brother Carlos. Victor promises Carlos to set him up with Vicki for an intro to Judy. Victor lives with Vicki, brother Nino, and his grandmother.Victor is such an annoying self-obsessive lip-licking caricature male teen that it's nearly impossible to root for him. He is aggressively trying to throw the audience by being a jerk. It makes it an unappealing watch for most of the first half. It does have an authenticity about the young characters. It would be easier to make it darker rather than being a light romantic comedy. It could have also been better to make Judy the protagonist rather than Victor. Carlos and Vicki are funny secondary relationship.

"Victor doesn't have much, but that's not stopping him from trying to go out with Judy, the prettiest girl on the block. All he's got is hope and a one-bedroom apartment he shares with his family. His grandmother doesn't trust him, his brother worships him, and his half-sister just declared war. But Victor thinks love really can conquer all in this warm, genuine, and touching romantic comedy about life in the part of the city most people never see," according to the DVD sleeve's synopsis.Peter Sollett' "Raising Victor Vargas" elicits engaging "debut" performances from lead actor Victor Rasuk (as Victor Vargas) and the cast. Mr. Rasuk and juicy Judy Marte (as Judy Gonzalez) are sexy and endearing as "Lower East Side Kids" discovering the joy of sexual attraction. Considering how attractive they look in this picture, it's not hard to predict they hook up - and, although you may wonder how "innocent" they really are, their characterizations seem true.Victor's brother "Nino" is played by Victor's real-life brother Silvestre Rasuk, who looks the part his older brother is playing. Sometimes, it's nice to see movie brothers who actually look alike; and, hopefully they will work together again. "Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs" sister Krystal Rodriguez (as Vicki) and old world Altagracia Guzman (as Grandma) round out the sex-starved Dominican immigrant family. So, are hand-held-camera coming-of-age films in vogue, or what? ******* Raising Victor Vargas (5/16/02) Peter Sollett ~ Victor Rasuk, July Marte, Silvestre Rasuk

Not too dramatic, but still lively and entertaining. Realistic and human. Warm, good movie. I thought the characters were touchable. I especially liked the little brother's character. His younger sister was a lively depiction of everything we hate about little sisters. The grandmother's character was very believable, well played and dynamic. I felt myself feeling hopeful for the family when they were attempting "the new beginning". This movie was a mature, big step away from the stereotypical movies created featuring Hispanic people. It was also more intimate and more believable. I enjoyed it more than what I expected to. A nice movie.