All Inclusive

A number of Latin American movies that I've seen look at the falsity of the lifestyles of the rich. Rodrigo Ortuzar Lynch's "All Inclusive" kind of does that, as a Chilean family stays at a Mexican resort, and the stay gives them experiences that affect each of them. The hurricane raging outside the hotel is nothing compared to the tension inside the room.

I didn't find this movie to be as good as "Y Tu Mamá También" in its look at the economic situation in Mexico. This movie seems too narrow in its focus. It does work as a look at the changes in the family's existence (especially the children's lives). It's an OK movie, not great. A really good Chilean movie from the last few years is "No", about the 1988 election that ousted Pinochet.

The Mexican Gonzalo Fernandez (Jesús Ochoa) travels with his dysfunctional family to spend vacation together in the XCaret resort in Playa de Carmen for the first time after ten years. Gonzalo lives in Santiago with his frustrated Chilean wife, Carmen (Valentina Vargas); his lesbian daughter Macarena (Ana Serradilla) that has just divorced from her husband; his pothead daughter Camila (Martha Higareda); and his nerd virgin son Andres (Jesús Zavala).

On the arrival, Gonzalo calls his doctor with the results of his medical exams and he learns that he is terminal. Lost without knowing how to tell his fate to his family, Gonzalo lies to Carmen, telling that he needs to travel in a business trip. He leaves the hotel and travels alone without destination. Gonzalo arrives in a small town, where he is robbed and he meets the Cuban Usnavy (Maya Zapata) that helps him to return to the resort. Meanwhile, his family is trapped in the hotel room since a hurricane will come to the spot and they air their dirty laundry.

"All Inclusive" is a Chilean-Mexican melodramatic soap opera with a non-engaging story, non-likable characters and full of clichés. I was misled by the IMDb rating with this disappointing film. My vote is four.

Title (Brazil): "Tudo Pode Acontecer" ("Everything May Happen")