Papi Chulo

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

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.

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.

I discovered this movie just randomly, while I was looking something to watch. Matt Bomer, that I remebered acting in White Collar and the fifth season of AHS, pushed me to watch it. I had really low expectations, I never heard about it, and I did not even watched a trailer, so I did not know what I was going to watch. I was surprised at the end: it is very enjoyable, and it treats some really serious topic, in a easygoing way, which is not easy at all.

Sean is a forecast reporter that suddently find himself completely alone. He needs to repaint the dock of his house and he hire this latino mam named Ernesto. The two start to have a connection that very quickly develop into an amazing friendship, that will help Sean to get over a very difficult moment in his life.

Mat Bomer and Alejandro Patiño portrait two men that, despite their differences, can bound together by demolishing every wall and social prejudice. And the movie is centered completely on them, it develop very nicely their relationship from the beginning, until the end. I never felt bored: every scene has the right timing, secondary characters only need to add a little bit of dynamicity, but they have the right space.

Papi Chulo is an entertaining movie and you will pass a pleasant one hour and a half. I really suggest this movie if you just want to relax, by watching at the same time a smart one.

I think Matt Bomer does a fantastic job in this film, although I may be biased by the fact he is very handsome. However the story is absolutely lovely. A very sweet tale of loneliness, a longing need and an unlikely connection between two very different people.

At first I thought it was going to be another film that I might describe as pointless, but actually it was just a slow-burner.

Not your typical gay story, no coming-out tragedy or dangerous relationship or even a will they, won't they and for that I like it very much.