Decent comedy with the great and likable comedian Alfredo Landa , giving a real comical spectacle . In this Landa vehicle he plays a redneck who cultivates vegetables and working hardly in the countryside growing product , being subsequently drafted. The story , though typical is not bad , there are several good points , and enjoyable acting as well . After being called up to the ranks of the Navy , Miguel Cañete (Alfredo Landa) must leave his village and his six-year-old little brother for whom Miguel is responsible. There the hapless new soldier suffers all kinds of pranks by a group of veteran soldiers . While joining the navy , it happens habitual clumsiness of him what makes Sergeant Canales (José Gálvez, nicknamed el tigre de San Fernando) furious , becoming him in the target of the ridicule and jokes from his colleagues (José Sacristán , Julio Pérez Tabernero) at the barracks . One day the sudden appearance of Quique (Camácho) , his little brother , causes a real mess in the battalion. Later on , Cañete attempts to find a place to leave his brother , and, after much searching Miguel finds a very cosy house , where Julia (Enriqueta Carballeira) , a kind blind girl , and Rosario (Florinda Chico) , her mother, live .
Remake of ¨Recluta con niño¨ or ¨Recruit with a Child¨ (1956) by director Pedro Luis Ramirez himself starred by José Luis Ozores , Manolo Morán , Julia Caba Alba , which was a huge box office success . This is one of those films you must pay attention to if you want to fully enjoy it. Funny and diverting comedy about a redneck or Spanish ¨Paleto¨ who leaves his rustic job and enlists as a rookie sailor into Navy and the veteran soldiers pull off a few pranks on him . It delivers a lot of silly situations, entertaiment and amusement . The highlights of the movie are the successive practical jokes that the veteran sailors execute against the unfortunate Alfredo Landa. This movie is a comedy in a classic way , that sometimes reminds others films in the absurd of the humour with diverting actors emitting sparks . There stands out the always excellent Alfredo Landa as a village man who is called up by the Navy to do military service , but he lives alone with his little brother and doesn't know where to leave him . It is pleasant to watch , and the actors are quite fine . Attractive and agreeable screenplay from two greatest writers : Vicente Coello and Vicente Escrivá . Tender and fun , this version is based on the comical vision of Landa, who's , as usual , fantastic ; by then he already had enormous success as an actor and he would become a social phenomenon , nicknamed ¨Landismo¨. In ¨Cateto a Babor¨ also intervenes a lot of familar faces giving charming interpretations , such as : Florinda Chico , Enriqueta Carballeira , José Suárez , José Sacristán , Margot Cottens ,Alberto Fernández , Luis Barbero , Alejandro Enciso , Julio Pérez Tabernero , Laly Soldevila and special mention for the always sparkling Rafaela Aparicio in a brief appearance .
It displays a brilliant and glimmering cinematography by cameran Raúl Pérez Cubero shot on location in various filming places such as : Benidorm, Alicante, Jávea, Alicante, Comunidad Valenciana , Centro de Formación de Especialistas de la Armada (Navy Specialists Training Center), San Fernando, Cádiz, Polígono de Tiro Naval "Janer" (Janer Naval Firing Range), Cádiz, Huelva, Andalucía, and Estudios Ballesteros, Madrid . Well produced by Aspa Producciones Cinematográfica and Filmayer , being professionally directed by Pedro L Ramírez. This fine filmmaker had an uneven career , being made in his best period when he directed successful comedies , such as : "Ladrones Somos Gente Honrada¨, ¨El Tigre de Chamberi¨ , ¨Fantasmas en la Casa¨, ¨El Gafe¨, ¨La Cenicienta y Ernesto¨ , Crimen para Recién Casados¨ , ¨? Donde Pongo Este Muerto?¨ and ¨Recluta con Niño¨" . Although Pedro L Ramírez also directed other genres as Paella Westerns : "Judas Toma Tus Monedas¨, ¨Clint El Solitario¨ , ¨Ninguno de los Tres llamaba Trinidad" and Giallo and terror as "El Pez de los Ojos de Oro¨ , ¨El Colegio de la Muerte" . Rating : 6/10. The picture will appeal to Alfredo Landa fans and Spanish comedy enthusiasts.
