Descongélate!

Tito is an unemployed actor that spend hits days acting in his brother's bar, waiting for his opportunity; meanwhile, his wife teaches in an illegal vegetarian cook school and his mother, very possessive, tries to protect him from his wife (typical mother-in-law). One day, arrives to the bar a very well-known (but drug-addict) cinema director, that watches Tito and decides to use him in his next film. This is the opportunity that Tito has been waiting, but, when everything is prepared to sign, the director dies. As if he dies, the money is away, Tito and his wife decide to simulate that the director is alive, only for some days, in order to sign the contract and get the money. This will lead to some surrealistic and funny situations. Though it is very typical, pretending that one person dead is still alive, here the result is quite sympathetic and the movie does not bore, and in some moments can result funny too. Most of the moments and gags are very usual and it's probable that you have seen it somewhere. However, they don't annoy. Of course it is not a good movie, but pleasant to see and it is not very long, so you cannot bore with it. Ideal for spending a quiet Sunday afternoon with a stupid but relaxing movie.

If one Spanish film was mistreated by reviewers and audience in 2003, it was Descongelate. It had very little promotion, it lasted very little in theaters but it is a great comedy with great actors. Pepon Nieto plays the part of an unemployed actor, Candela Peña as his ambitious wife, Loles Leon as a former vedette, possessive mother and meddlesome mother in law. The supporting actors are great as well.

The screenplay is fabulous too. The comedy sometimes turns into a drama, sometimes into a horror film, sometimes into something that reminded me of A Simple Plan. But it never loses its essence as a comedy, a grotesque comedy or "esperpento". I wonder why, being as good as (or better) Dias de Futbol, Descongelate didn't get as much recognition or popularity.

The plot is about an unknown actor (JUSTO SANTOS, played by Pepón Nieto) that has a great talent to vocal imitations and does a small number in his brother's bar. Occasionally a famous director (AITOR, played by Óscar Jaenada) sees his number and likes it so much to the point of wanting him to the protagonist of his next film. JUSTO doesn't want to believe! Finally came his chance to have success! Everything seems to be going out well until AITOR dies, with a overdoses, after a dinner at JUSTOS' place…

It's a nice dark comedy, with a few good laughs, done in Spanish standards. The acting is also fine.