Santo contra Capulina

An unusual entry in the series, "Santo contra Capulina" (1969), has no wrestling scenes, although it does feature quite a few rough-house fights in which the antagonists throw each other into huge stacks of empty cardboard boxes. I'm also glad to say that a somewhat muted and far less aggressively infantile Capulina turns in an almost creditable job as a night-watchman who spends his time sleeping on the job. Rene Cardona directs with a fair degree of style. All told, it's a movie I'd gladly watch again – something that cannot be said for most of the Santo efforts. Add to the cast: Victor Alcocer, Guillermo Hernandez, Jorge Guzman, and the director's grandson, Rene Cardona III.

"Santo Contra Capulina" ("Saint Vs. Capulina") is an incredibly silly movie and is worth about 3 on the 'ol quality scale. However, just because a movie is bad does NOT mean it's not enjoyable. Like all the Santo films, it's incredibly silly, packed full of problems with the plot and not anyone's idea of sophisticated entertainment. After all, these are the supposed real life adventures of a masked luchador who NEVER takes off the mask--fighting the forces of evil while wearing a mask and a snazzy sport coat! But, I have never seen a Santo film that was boring--and this one is certainly entertaining.

Before I go on, I should mention that I had never seen the comic Capulina before I saw this film. Although I know he's beloved in his native Mexico, as a non-Mexican, I have no such love or nostalgia watching him and assume his humor is something that grows on you...like, perhaps, mold. I thought he wasn't very funny, though seeing this broad comic helping Santo fight crime--now that was pretty funny.

Capulina is a totally incompetent night watchman. He mostly just sleeps on the job and it's not surprising that evil has chosen to invade the warehouse during his watch. However, although this should be easy pickings, Santo shows up and beats the crap out of the baddies. And, now he has somehow gotten a new friend--Capulina. This is strange, however, as "Santo Contra Capulina" translates to either "Saint Versus Capulina" or "Saint Against Capulina"--implying that they are fighting each other. The only time this almost happens is when there is an evil robotic duplicate Capulina fighting Santo--and I actually liked this part. The trick cinematography was excellent and it did make me chuckle...just a bit.

As for why all this is occurring, it's all the doing of an evil madman who is trying to replace people with robots AND smuggle diamonds. It's all rather strange but it IS a Santo film! I say the best thing to do is to try not to think--just enjoy the action, laugh at all the times the baddies have guns but drop them to fight with Santo and thrill to relatively fat wrestlers pummeling each other.

By the way, the other reviewer said that there were no wrestling scenes- -just fighting. Well, this isn't the case, as there is one small scene where Santo is in the ring with a robotic wrestler.