Papi Chulo

8/10 - honest and entertaining buddy dramedy is worth a watch or two

Let me first start off by saying I'm not gay and don't typically watch movies with gay images or titles. With that being said, I'm glad I didn't pass this one up. Definitely my favorite movie thus far this year.

We all grieve in different ways, but this one hit home. I mean how many of us try to open a new door without closing the existing one.

The acting was superb. The Mexican (Ernesto) reminds me of my uncles and grandparents in his work ethic and conscious of what they're being paid for.

John Butler both wrote and directed this sensitive film that tenderly explores the space that friendship secures despite hypothetical barriers of language, culture, gender identification and social mores. This is a film that is not only entertaining and well acted and directed, but also is a much needed platform for examining the prejudices that at times interfere with civility when those responses can be (and so often are) healing. Sean (a luminous Matt Bomer) is a gay Los Angeles television weatherman whose anguish over a 6-month separation of his ex-lover Carlos results in an on-camera breakdown. His TV crew encourages him to take a rest - a break from his broadcast duties - and spend some time talking to someone for support in his chronic loneliness. Sean decides to change his life, at least as far as his home atmosphere, by giving away Carlos' potted tree on his deck - the removal of which leaves a painted blemish that Sean decides to correct. This mission opens the gate to his picking up a middle-aged migrant Latino day worker - Ernesto (Alejandro Patiño) - to help him, and despite the language barrier the two become friends: Sean over-talks on hikes, rowing on MacArthur Park Lake, parties, eateries, and gay parties and Ernesto sensitively provides listening companionship. When Ernesto doesn't appear one day, Sean turns to drinking and trying to find Ernesto in his Pico Rivera living area, only to fall (literally) into Ernesto's backyard during a Quinceanera party and is cared for by Ernesto's family - a kindness Sean later repays as 'room and board'. During Sean's recovery he tries Grindr, and the hunky Ryan Guzman appears at his door: Sean is emotionally unable to respond to the encounter. Time passes. All's well that end's well - as when Ernesto's child knocks on the front door, followed by Ernesto, to fix the still unpainted deck. 'Sometimes a stranger makes the best friend.' A small but very fine cast support Bomer and Patiño and the result is a touching film that offers a fine view of interpersonal relationships - despite some barriers.

This movie is about a weatherman who is coming in terms with being alone and lonely after losing his partner. Matt Bomer has done different kind of movies over the years and this one is no different. He displays a complex character who goes from being kind and sad to awkward and kind of creepy and back to kind and sad. Unfortunately this movie chooses to show an immigrant as an emotional teddy bear.

I loved this film because I can really relate to it on a personal level.

My wife is from South America and I have been a lifelong sufferer of what is known as CPTSD, I have suffered traumas as a child but also in the last 15 years had 14 people died including 3 best friends, aunties, uncles and my father. Sometimes you have to ask how people live through these traumas.

So for me this film and the main actor who's name in the film is Sean who is also suffering from PTSD due to losing someone he loved I can feel his pain and he was crying out for someone to be just company to him who he could talk to,

The film was in my opinion no masterpiece BUT it wasn't far off, I think the negative reviews on here are from people who can't profoundly relate to Sean's pain and his situation.

Some people would of expected more action or just a different film, It was just a really put together well film that has an uncanny amount of love in it.

The actors both Sean and Ernesto plaid a fantastic role with outstanding skills and both my wife and I didn't get bored for a single second, I would love to see a second version of this film but without ruining their bond that both Ernesto and Sean built on very unusual circumstances.

Overall the film for me gets a 9/10. It was a film I would deffo watch again.