I re del mambo

Excellent "mambo" music and colorful characters made me rate this a "9" after the first viewing. After several looks, the novelty - how many mambo movies are there? - wore off and it settled in as an "8 stars" film but I don't regret seeing this several times. It's fun to watch.

Armand Assante was particularly good in here and I was intrigued with Maruschka Detmers, a new face which at times looked striking. Since she resides in France and hasn't made many, if any, English-speaking films, we here in North America haven't really seen her since this film. Assante and Antonio Bandaras are the two leads, however, sharing the spotlight with the music. Both actors are excellent, maybe the best roles of their careers.

The story moves best the first 40 minutes with a lot of that "hot" music but then gets a little melodramatic afterward. However, I found it interesting all the way through with a nice tale of brotherly love and devotion.

For all you "Ricky Ricardo" fans of "I Love Lucy" television: if you want a real feel of Latin Americans-in America during the 1950s, check this film out.

It's 1952 Havana, Cuba. Cesar (Armand Assante) moves to NYC taking younger brother Nestor Castillo (Antonio Banderas) after getting into a dispute over Maria (Talisa Soto). The brothers are amazed at the nightlife and Tito Puente. Cesar falls for brash cigarette girl Lanna Lake (Cathy Moriarty) while Nestor is still in love with Maria. The brothers work odd jobs and play in the clubs at night. Nestor falls for shy Delores (Maruschka Detmers). His song "Beautiful Maria of My Soul" catches Desi Arnaz who elevates the brothers to fame. However it is fleeting as they encounter tragedy.

It's a relatively good historical drama. The music is happening. The two actors are terrific. Assante is all energy and Banderas is charming. However the drama isn't that compelling. The story is without surprises. Arne Glimcher is limited as a director. Quite frankly, he has access to great music but he doesn't use it in an interesting way. Moriarty matches Assante's energy but Detmers is a hollow beauty. This a functional music pic but it could be more.

First, I am a professional drummer whose interest in this film was only ignited by with the knowledge that the genius Tito Puente makes an appearance, and even better, shares a solo with the star. That aside, the rest of the movie is a favorite of mine, especially the fantastic, contagious personality of Cesar, superbly played by Assante...you grow to love this rogue of a man almost instantly. His constant laughter is just a hint of how rascally a businessman/band leader and devoted brother he is. The music is no less contagious, and I find myself interested in Salsa and Mambo music all the more because of this entertaining film. My one complaint is that the above-mentioned solo between Puente and Assante is interrupted by gangland violence, just at the moment when everyone is getting into the spirit! Other than that, it was brilliantly casted and acted. A great look at the way of the entertainment business in the early 1950's, especially for hopeful immigrants like the Castillo Brothers. Excellent!

Two brothers flee Cuba in the early 50s in search of the American Dream playing mambo music. The older sibling, Cesar, is a natural showman and businessman (Armand Assante) whereas the younger brother, Nestor, is a reserved composer (Antonio Banderas). The women in their lives are played by curvy Cathy Moriarty and Maruschka Detmers.

"The Mambo Kings" (1992) is reminiscent of "The Cotton Club" (1984) mixed with the later "Pollock" (2000) and maybe a little "Dirty Dancing" (1987). While not quite as good as those, it's still worth checking out, especially if you like mambo or energetic Latin music in general, not to mention the setting of 50's America.

Assante is convincing, performing with charisma and gusto, while Banderas is effective as the sensitive and sincere younger sibling, although he's a far cry from the brooding Brando. This was Banderas' first English-speaking role; he learned his lines phonetically and worked with a dialect coach throughout pre-production and filming.

Too much of the movie takes place in clubs or apartments with people smoking, drinking and emoting for my tastes. But the story perks up in the third act with a notable sequence featuring Desi Arnaz, Jr. (I don't want to say more because I don't want to give anything away).

The film runs 1 hour, 44 minutes, and was shot in Los Angeles.

GRADE: B-

I saw this movie for the first time in 1995 on television and it has been a favorite of mine ever since.

Armand Assante was absolutely awesome! Pure male magnetism just oozed from his pores in this role and I think I became his biggest fan by the time the movie had ended.

Antonio Banderas was handsome as ever and the two of them together was definitely a treat for female viewers.

The the music, the dancing and the charisma of the movie was infectious and fun to be a part of, even if it was only in a visual context.

I must admit, my rating is strictly biased because, to date, I still think Armand Assante is the sexiest man alive and anything that he is in, I make it my business to see, so the 10 was earned entirely on the basis of Armand Assante's presence.