Perico ripiao

The story take place in the middle of 1978 and it's about three men running away after escaping from prison in a sudden lucky-casual moment, getting involve in a lot of really hilarious situations along the way.

Based on a strong script, cleverly plotted, the screenplay flows in a dynamic fashion, compound with a kind of original cinematography style. Though we can not qualify it as a master piece, we consider it perfectly works to tell the whole story and make sense.

Music plays a fundamental role (The words Perico Ripiao are used to define a country music genre in Dominican Republic) as the main characters represents musicians. Joined by a rhythmic edit tempo and a high photography level that takes advantages of exotic caribbean locations, not falling into the 'cliché' of `see how many beaches, sand and coconuts we got'.

After watching the previous two Angel Muniz's movies (Director) Nueba Yol and Nueba Yol III, it make justice to sentence that Perico Ripiao it surpasses his previous works showing great improvements in techniques and personal growth. The same commentary apply for the whole Dominican Republic still swaying film industry.

If you are Dominican you'll spent one hour and a half laughing to death thanks to well structured dialogues and gags spreading non-stop all over the film and a social ironic criticize inserted with skill by the director, sometimes in a subliminal way and more directly some other times.

If you are from another latin country you will really enjoy with movie too cause to its noticeable regionalism it doesn't opaque in any way the universally language that beneath it, neither spontaneous acting of his characters.

What if you are not latin or have not spanish knowledge? Then you will face a language and cultural barrier difficult to climb just using subtitles but if you like pure good films, well treated and spiced with caribbean elements (by the way: no sex, nor violence) you sure going to have a pleasant surprise and a good example of art and skillful techniques.

Highest peaks: Suitable direction, a more than decent photography, natural to great acting performances, good basic edits and general posting.

Weakest points lay on musical mix in relations to dialogues, some supporting acting low development and lack of a story twist at the end (very personal appreciation).

No doubt the formula works for any market. So, no matter where you from if you decide to watch this movie you can be sure your time ain't wasted.

This movie is not just extremely hilarious, but it has all of the drama and the emotional twists and turns of a real life drama that occurs to people living under a repressive regime and still trying to live.

And of course the fact that the actors were all able to act so natural and engage in typical conversations the way the people of Quisqueya speak makes this movie so realistic. And at the same time we can see as viewers, the terrible situation of this island being split into two, the corruption that goes on and how people are affected by all of this.

What I love the most is that this is the first movie I have ever seen from this island, and it relates so much to the people, and it seems that all or most of the actors are natives of the island, which helps encourage the acting careers of the people of Quisqueya (of both sides of the borders).

I also loved the Chinese man in the mob of slave Haitians. You'll enjoy it too.

It is a very funny movie. However, for non-Spanish speaking people, it would be hard to understand the meaning of the movie, because the translation (caption/subtitles) is not near as good as it should be.. It needs a better translation in English, non-Spanish speakers would be able to laugh at the jokes as Hispanics would. What the actors were saying was not the same interpretation written in the subtitles but I recommend to non-Spanish speaker to go with someone that does speak the language, He/She might help you to understand the joke. I'm glad that this movie has been released in new york city , but it has not been "advertise" as it should be. I saw "NuebaYol" 10 years ago and it was not as funny as this one.

I had so much fun watching this movie, I agree is far better than one expects. I am Spanish but lived in DR for a year and a half, even though I am familiar with Dominicans and Dominican slang I don't agree that this movie can only be enjoyed by Dominicans... A Spaniard or, specially, any other Latino can easily follow the thread and maybe he won't understand 100% but the expressions you can figure out even if you've never heard it before!

Filming is not the best ever, but technical problems are compensated with a hilarious acting and a hectic action. They should have watched out better for details, the DHL bag that the girl in the bus carries doesn't look from the 70s...

Great good luck for Múñiz!

I think Perico Ripiao is a good movie,it is a comedy, so it achieves its goal of making you laugh. The story is original, and it looks very good on screen, also the music is very good. i enjoyed it. saw it twice and laughed as hard as the first time. i hope they can take it all over the world where latin americans are. (remember the subtitles for the gringos). Angel Muñiz is talented, i think he will surprise the world someday. His first work, nueba yol was very good, i couldn't believe it when i saw it on cinecanal once (people who know what cinecanal is, know they only show good movies) i felt proud. we have to remember that in dominicana we don't have the big film industry and the money and the support hollywood has, so it was a big effort to make this movie, and i respect him for doing it as a professional as he did it no matter what. if you have the chance to see it, go for it, it is interesting and fun. i certainly would love that next time Angel Muñiz makes a movie, it's not so dominican, so that he can start becoming an international director, maybe our next Pedro Almodovar. :o) I give it 8.5 of 10