User Reviews

This is the first of two remakes that are out at this moment. At least one more is in the pipelines. And funnily enough I haven't seen the original yet! I thought I would be watching the original of the french remake with Jean Dujardin, but I got this instead on Netflix. The main actors do their best with the limited bubble they can play within.

It is sort of a surprise that a story like that would lead to that many remakes. But romantic comedies do draw an audience and in its heart it has nothing but good intentions (no pun intended). One of the things that is different from the other movies, is that the female here is a woman of color, which brings a new layer of social commentary. It plays nicely, but you can see things coming as in it being predictable.

A woman Juana loses her phone (actually threw it away in a fit of anger), but receives a call from a man who found it, Leon.. He is a charming conversationalist, but she is shocked when she sees him as he so short (and is referred to as a dwarf throughout the movie). He talks a good story and has a pretty sensational date near the beginning. They are both divorced, she working with her ex as lawyers while he has a cordial supportive relation with his wife. Her friends are upset that she seems interested in the dwarf, but she really enjoys his company. Of course there are ups and downs.

Prejudice is a link. Juana is black and there is some expression of barriers, but she obviously overcame them, even marrying a white guy. Her sister is married to another white guy, who is deaf and receiving a little bit of prejudice. Leon, normally a very positive thinker does express frustration at how he has been treated and at one point relates to Juana's minority status, but neither dwells on it.

This is re-make of a film done two years previously in Argnetinaa, and although I didn't see it I believe the plot is similar. Most of the movie is fun and you root for Leon who is trying to winning an attractive woman against her obvious discomfort level. Then you root for her when she is fighting social pressures.

The background music was enjoyable, but you will probably notice the Latin dance music. The camera work has a few moments of impact. One part of the camera work I didn't realize was how Leon who in real life (as Marlon is really over 6 feet tall. The actor playing his son is actually his son and plays a loving, but a little troubled son. The actors portraying Leon's ex and Juana's ex were very good.

To me the star was Maria Nela Sinistrre who played Juana. She was charming in a very natural way and you identify with her conflict of wanting a relationship, but affected by those around her.