How to Be a Latin Lover

As with "Instructions Not Included" back in 2013, "How to Be a Latin Lover" is yet another film with a similar feel to it. The huge difference is that Eugenio Derbez, co-wrote, co-produced and directed 'Instructions' whereas in this film he did not and we, the audience, are the worst for it.

 

In this riches to rags comedy, an aging gigolo, Maximo (Eugenio Derbez) is kicked to the curb by his 80-year-old millionaire wife or lover, Peggy (Renee Taylor) after 25 years of being together for a younger guy, car salesman (Michael Cera). Maximo receives counsel from his buddy and fellow gigolo (Rob Lowe), but after chatting with him, he is then forced to move in with his estranged sister, Sara (Salma Hayek) and her young son, Maximo's nephew, Hugo (Raphael Alejandro). Anxious to return to the lap of luxury, he attempts to reignite his powers as a Latin Lover and win over the recently widowed grandmother, Celeste (Raquel Welch) of his nephew's school crush, Arden (McKenna Grace).

 

Others to round out the cast are Kristen Bell as Cindy, Rob Corddry as Quincy, Celeste's driver, Rob Riggle and Rob Huebel as Nick, both whom Maximo owes money to, Linda Lavin as Millicent and Vadhir Derbez as 22 Year Old Maximo.

 

This was remarkably well directed by virtual newbie to feature films, Ken Marino (tons of TV). He was able to maneuver his actors to get them to emit this right amount of emotion and staging to make this film as realistic as it conveyed. All the TV served this filmmaker well, and I'm sure we'll see his name attached to the director's credit in more feature films to come. It was written by Jon Zack ("Out Cold" '01, "The Perfect Score" '04) plus TV, and Chris Spain. Considering the lack of experience of both writers (Spain has no other experience), it was a miracle this was written as well as it was. As with director, Marino, these guys need to cut their teeth on more TV before they are truly ready for feature films. The film started out well, then it moved fairly slow and considering the slowness, went on too long. Then nearing the end, something had to happen to make a good ending work, so then the film picked up and had a creative ending, but it didn't get there subtly and where it looked effortless. If only Derbez was attached to the creative side of this, I believe it would've gone in a completely different direction.

 

If you like Eugenio Derbez's work, you will surely enjoy this. Liking comedies as I do, at least this was written in way that didn't include banal writing, four-letter-words, sex, drugs and the shock factor. In fact, with all the banal toilet humor films out there, it sort of makes this comedy look tame as compared. We should have more of these comedies, just a bit more polished in writing.

 

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                   Rated: PG-13                                114mins.