Instructions Not Included

This is not a comedy. The summary on IMDb could lead you to wrong expectations from this movie. It is somewhat funny, but it definitely isn't a comedy. It is a beautiful, deeply emotional drama about the relationship between a single father and his daughter and about ways they handle all the twists life brings. If you did not shed a single tear during this movie, please go to X-ray and check if you have a heart at all. Technically, it is not anything special, just average production, but the emotion it carries is priceless.

8,5/10

I'll be honest, I was dragged in to see this movie but was quickly enthused and charmed by the undeniable chemistry between father and daughter(Eugenio Derbez, Loreta Peralta). The very first minutes weren't exactly my cup of tea but it it gets to the point eagerly and you get the whole message of the title along with it. Don't confuse it for just another meager Disney squall of becoming a family film. No where throughout the movie did I remember the pacifier or the Game Plan those were particularly distasteful movies I could hope to forget. Instructions Not Included finds heart and answers many questions all of us have asked about life. All the troubles and dismay we go through are for not, the very essence of where we have placed our hopes lie within the children we take care of and honestly there aren't any instructions included through the sobs, the laughs, and the peace we come to while they teach us how to grow.

Watch this movie and I promise you won't forget it and bring a box of Kleenex for your tears.

In a world of big budget blockbusters some of the best movies are the smaller independent films from all over the world. The latest Instructions Not Included is a Spanish/American film from writer, director, and star Eugenio Derbez. While he has made appearances in Jack and Jill with Adam Sandler and stole the TV show ROB with Rob Schneider he is already pretty huge in Mexico, this marks his first foray into directing but does he bring his usual comedy chops along with the ability to create a memorable film?

Instructions Not Included follows a resident playboy in Mexico whose life is thrown upside down when a former fling leaves a baby on his door step. He leaves Mexico for Los Angeles in hopes to find the baby's mother, but instead finds a new life as a successful stuntman and raises the girl for over six years. But when her mother returns it risks everything they have built together. This is one of those surprising films that really deliver way more than you may expect. Eugenio Derbez has crafted a great film mixed with plenty of humor blended perfectly with a heart-warming touching story. The film is partly in Spanish and partly in English, but blends both perfectly to create a film that works for not only both markets, but also for all audiences even if they don't like subtitled films. Derbez has everything needed to lead this film with his already established ability with comedy, but carries the emotional aspect needed to bring the rest of this story together effectively. When making a film like this that involves a child actor to be just as integral to the story as the adult lead their performance can make or break the film. Thankfully Loreto Peralta is amazing and is able to hold her own alongside Derbez like a pro, despite this being her first role. Beyond being adorable and having the child innocence, she is able to bring the needed maturity to the role.

This is one of those small films that comes along and will really surprise you. While it has great performances, it lets the story lead the charge and knocks it out of the park. This is a comedy, but be warned this funny man has crafted a film that will not only tickle your funny bone, but also tug at your heart strings.

I was going to be politically correct and leave 8 out of 10 stars for this but then again could not think of the flaws that would justify the missing 2 stars so I threw in another. The last one is always reserved for technicalities, photography, sound, music, etc. An excellent example of how a simple movie can be so powerful. What could be more important than a parent/child relationship? I specially felt the plot as a father who was separated from an only child at a very early age. Great performance by Eugenio Derbez (Valentin), Jessica Lindsey (Julie) and Loreto Peralta (Maggie). I can't remember the last time I cracked up so much not having enough time to discreetly wipe my tears. That look in Julie's face when she encounters Maggie is worth seeing this alone; a moment which can not be easily replicated. Highly recommended.

Eugenio Derbez is brilliant. As director he delivers a beautiful story and he make a magnificent debut, and as actor he accomplished express deep feelings with both comedy and drama, in the other hand the girl(Loreto Peralta) steals the movie, I hope she get to work in other movies like Dakota Fanning did before one after another because she HAVE it. I am proud to be Mexican and also I am enchanted with the movie's quality and form of telling the tale, maybe the ending is not what I expected but Mexican cinema permits tragicomedy, so in a way fulfill my feeling that this was more than only splat comedy. Eugenio's movie is successful in the way the movie is appealing both for Mexicans (Latinos) and Americans (English speaking) audience. I like very much all the success in the box-office he's having and really deserves all this attention, he is very talented and this is the first of many movies he is going to make and direct. Viva Eugenio!