Mort de rire

Not among Spanish cult director Alex de la Iglesia's best movies, this film tells the tale, through almost two decades, of two TV comedians who are a very famous and successful duo (though their act is nothing else than one of the guys slapping the face of the other guy) but who grew to hate (and really hate) each other to death. The duo is played by Santiago Segura and El Gran Wyoming, two famous comedians in Spain. Segura, the fat guy in the duo and the one who gets slapped, is famous there for the Torrente films, in which he plays an hilariously corrupt cop. This movie is only mildly funny, and I'm not sure it would travel well outside Spanish speaking countries.

I just saw this film at the Fantasia festival here in Montreal. The festival mostly shows action/kung-fu movies, but this is definitely not in that category. This film makes you want to get up and scream...but what would you say?

I don't know how this film got made, as I don't know much about the Spanish film industry, but I'm suddenly really intrigued. This film delivers!

The acting, directing, music and costumes are all great, but the writing is off the charts. I want to see more films like this. It made me laugh so hard and made take a serious look at how I perceive celebrities-I was in good hands during this film.

DON'T MISS IT

4/4

De la Iglesia is back with a tragical comedy about two Spanish comedians of the 70s. Including homages to old shows as "Un, Dos, Tres" and "Directísimo", this is a comical (Or tragical?) approach to the last 25 years of Spanish history. Segura and Wyoming, comical as always, blend into their characters. The movie is a lot of fun, especially for those who know the historical period. Despite some criticism, I think this is, with "El Día de la Bestia", De la Iglesia´s best film.

I enjoyed this film, if not for its comprehension, then at least for its outrageous, odd characters and plot. I love the surreal imagery, and although it has some dirty, disturbing scenes, the point of view is so unaffected and indifferent that its even humorous. This movie is a dark comedy, because it deals with many issues that in reality would be disturbing: death, insanity, loneliness, envy, hatred, etc....And yet the film attempts quite indifferently to use these motifs in its humor.

There are also many subtle details in the movie that catch you by surprise, disgust, or shock. For example in one scene when nino is talking to his manager in prison, in the background you will see a woman with her top open and....well, you get it.

I don't think this movie is perfect, but I appreciate the artistic freedom it took to make it, and the violent, absurd, insane, vile shocks from its twists and turns that leave you strangely and happily confused.

I can't believe there are people who like this movie. Of course, their opinion is as valid as mine, but it's hard for me to understand that. What's in this movie? A few pseudo-comic scenes, several references to old spanish TV programs and music hits (if you want to feel nostalgic with all that stuff you can watch a spanish TV documentary instead and that'll be surely better), and a surreal plot only understood by the people who made the film. I must confess I didn't laugh a single time, perhaps I smiled twice or three times during the whole movie. Sorry, Santiago, I don't like it !

My rating is 4 out of 10 (and I'm being generous because I'm spanish).