Menino Maluquinho: O Filme

It's been a long time since I was a kid, but I still occasionally enjoy a family movie, if it's good. I like children in general, and I really love my nephews and niece. I'm single and in my early thirties, and I've never had children nor do I plan to, at least for now. If you're like me, I think you'll find it quite hard to enjoy this movie in any way.

I remember how the "Menino Maluquinho" series were extremely popular in my childhood, although I didn't care much for it. As most children, I too enjoyed reading comic books, but as I grew older, I quickly started reading books instead of carrying my passion for reading into adulthood through comics like Marvel, DC, Disney and the local Turma da Mônica.

I've watched this movie in order to get some context to watch the sequel, which is directed by Fernando Meirelles - one of my favorite directors ("Cidade de Deus"). I tried hard to find something amusing about it, but what I've got was 1 hour and a half of annoying children doing annoying stuff, sounding extremely annoying all the time.

So, if you're like me, and adult person who chose not to have kids (either because you couldn't or didn't want to), but you still would like to know how it feels to have annoying kids shouting all around you - be my guest, this movie will do just that for you.

I should have just opened my window and let all the noise from my neighbors into my house - that would have been more entertaining than watching this movie. It does make me wonder why a director that has been paid to shoot a movie didn't at least try to make it a good one. I assume he was paying back some favors, that's the only way to explain it.

The "Menino Maluquinho", or "Wacky Kid" ("Nutty" in these English credits), is one of the most famous and beloved child character from Brazilian literature and this movie is the first dedicated to him. The movie is about the famous child illustrated book, but it also includes characters that appeared only in the spin-off comics. Colorful and full of past time cars and clothes, besides comical sound effects, the film brings an atmosphere of magical realism that fits well. Though, acting is not good, at least when it comes to the child casting. There are some moments which capture the magic of childhood, but there are also others which are just silly. The greatest merit is the true conversion of the characters from the comic pages to the big screen (Junim, Julieta, Wacky Kid himself and his mother are particularly identical). It is not in the core of the story, for sure, but I also consider that this worth to be mentioned: in spite of the great freedom for children, the Brazil portrayed in the film is a very traditional one: an upper class white patriarchal family with a "colored" payed domestic work.

the movie is soooo much fun!! it entertains all ages,and the story is great! is about a kid, a kid most kids can identify with.... he's crazy and does weird things, just like most of us!!! the book is great, better than the movie, but it cannot be missed!!!