The Right Juice

Before seeing this movie as a screening in the Netherlands I heard it was a romantic comedy with a little bit of action in it and the first feature length movie of the director. And that's just what it is. A nice funny feel-good movie. It's about a London banker who is following his dream in the Algarve in Portugal after getting into a crisis. His dreams are being blocked by some investors, but with the help of some local people he fights back. The story is simple but solid. The plot is not too exciting. But right from the start you really get into it. The movie breathes the right atmosphere of the Algarve. You can feel the heat and the dryness of the surroundings. You can also identify with the main character who wants to start a new life without the complexities of the western world, but has to face the problems one meets when starting all over again in a new place. Ellie Chidzey is convincing as his wife Sally who is used to her luxurious lifestyle in London and can't let go of it. If you like romantic comedies and want to learn a lesson in the end, I can recommend this movie.

The movie is shot in the Algarve providing beautiful scenic shots and colors. It has constant humor with a former banker that is trying to cope with a different culture and others who are not. The tempo of the movie is relaxed and realistic. I think it really captures the real speed of life in that part of the word, adding to the realism of the movie. The story leaves enough room for interpretation to keep it interesting. It is not fully worked out in each detail, so it keeps you thinking although not in a disrupting way. So all in all a very beautiful and funny movie, specifically taking into account the budget that was available for it. Cudo's to all involved!

I've experienced The Right Juice as a movie that makes you connect to the characters and makes you smile. As usually typical for movies that are made in France, Italy, Spain and Portugal you relate to the characters.

This movie brings you exactly that! This is beautifully supported by the way the scenes are shot. The location is typical Algarve and the Portuguese characters are real, not stereotyped.

I believe this movie was not shot with a large budget and that makes it even more an achievement of this production team. I am looking forward to see more of this director and see what more he can do with more budget.

This all underlines the passion of all the people involved in this project to make this movie as it is now, a warm movie.

How I disagree with "Embarrassing". This really is a fun movie with a great feel good factor, fairly unusual these days. The scenery is wonderful and the film quite clearly shows the generosity and friendliness of the Portuguese people. I watched this film surrounded by local Portuguese who laughed as much as I did. I thought the cast was excellent, though for my taste Oliver's wife was perhaps a little too "light". Manel was played brilliantly, not sure if this actor is a well known comic actor but hopefully he will do more in the future, he was a natural. Congratulations on receiving the Canadian award - the first of many I am sure.

A sincere, light footed funny and visually enticing movie. I came to the movie theatre with a slight fear in my heart for I often find the genre comedy abused by directors who seem to have a 'x jokes per minute quota'. Do they, I wonder. I loved the subtlety of the jokes, and sincerity of the story. Recognizable and therefore credible characters, make for a charming story. Though I must say that the protagonist is a a bit of a blue eyed boy scout and his nemesis is very clearly the bad guy..but then again, they seem to have opposite views of life so it might be befitting. The directors apparent knowledge and love for the Algarve region shines trough the scenes and is highly contagious. The music was very much in tune with the story and helped introducing the Algarve and its inhabitants to the viewer. I've never been there but now it feels as if I have. Enjoyed it thoroughly.