¡Vuelven los García!

"The Three Garcias" was an amiable film--nothing especially memorable but worth seeing. However, when I watched this film a few weeks ago, I was really surprised to see that there was a sequel. Things seemed pretty much wrapped up with the last film but apparently the movie was successful and another film with the same characters soon followed. For some, this must have been a treat. For me, it was too much...and a bit unnecessary.

Like the prior film, you have three cousins who spend all their time arguing with each other and threatening to break into fist fights any second. Stopping them is their grandma--a rather violent old lady at that.

In the prior film, the Lopez family has sworn to kill the Garcias...because I guess that's what Lopez' do best. But, the film begins with three of the clan being shot dead--and instead of the threat of the Lopez family disappearing, the two remaining members vow to kill the Garcias...even if the Garcias didn't do this! This vendetta is acted upon just as one of the Garcia cousins is about to marry-- and the Lopez son shoots up the wedding. Will this madness ever stop? And, will Pedro Infante's character ever stop drinking and crying?!

I never found the Garcias that interesting--more caricatures than anything else. Perhaps this is also because the vendetta culture seems to strange and odious here in the 21st century--so much of the plot doesn't resonate with most viewers. Regardless, seeing this nonsense again and the overacting of Infante (it's not among his better roles) make this one far less enjoyable than the first film. Not a terrible film but unless you thought you just didn't get enough of them the first time, an unnecessary sequel. If you do watch it, however, the ending certainly is unusual.

This movie and its first part could be consider the first great classic of the binomial Rodriguez-Infante which was very prolific in the Mexican movies in the forties and fifties.in this movie contrary with its first part include some dramatic scenes,performed especially by Pedro Infante mixed efficiently with comedy tones,which will be the hallmark in Rodriguez movies.

Second and last part of the famous "Garcia" Series, this one follows up with the conclusion of the deadly rivalry between the Garcia and Lopez families. A bit darker than the first one (Los Tres Garcia), it presents that strange, particular brand of moviemaking that marked Mexican Cinema's Golden Age: Music intermissions (the most attractive ones being, obviously, Pedro Infante's songs), comic relief subplots and characters, and some very dark moments.

Characters are constructed around some relatively simple cliches: Pedro Infante as the loudmouthed, ever-active Charro which was so often his character, who gets drunk and fights anyone within sight at the slightest provocation; Abel Salazar as the shy rancher who has a hard time getting to girls, and Victor Manuel Mendoza as the poet, an elegant and worldly-wise man. Over them, the heavy (Very heavy!) figure of cigar-smoking Grandma Garcia (Sara Garcia, lovely as ever, which mostly keeps a, hum, limited screen time, but is actually pivotal to the plot resolution), which uses her heavy Iron Hand to keep the Three Young Garcias from facing the Lopez family, as their fathers once did. She remains a landmark of Mexican cinema, being able to switch from playing the Straight part in small sketches (disseminated throughout the movies) to becoming the dramatic "voice beyond the grave", so to speak, that guides Pedro Infante's character to taking the decisions that ultimately resolve the story.

The Drama involved in the final "duel" scene between the "last (free) men standing" of both the Garcia and Lopez families is not to be missed. You'll know who they are when the moment comes.

Ismael Rodriguez at his best, in that strange kind of comedy that never fails to entertain, and that delivers laughter, sighs, slapstick, tears, screams and, to some degree, adventure, in a single, easy to swallow, package. Epic, yes, and even a Cult movie, to some degree...