¡Que viva México!

This is a 3+ hour "comedy". I don't have any idea how something like this could happen from a studio like Sony. There is no way to make a comedy funny and fun that is that long.

The worst part, is that most of that runtime could have been easily trimmed. The first hour is wasted in presenting characters and situations that have not much importance later on.

So, the story is very basic. A city man goes back to his childhood town for his grandfather's funeral and reading of his testament. In the will, his grandfather leaves all his valuable assets to him, to the chagrin of his very big family. This is the set up of the movie, this is where the story begins. This moments happens 1 hour 30 minutes into the movie (I know, because I was checking my watch constantly 30 minutes in).

The rest of the movie you have seen in countless others like Greedy (1994), where all relatives fight each other to get what they think is their fair share.

It could have been a fun silly comedy had it just focused on the funny bits, but it somehow gets lost in super long sequences and presenting dozens of characters that do nothing but just being presented.

A movie to avoid, for sure. But maybe we might eventually get the "Non Director's Cut", that puts this at 90 minutes, and maybe that would be a watchable funny movie.

I understood the point of this movie's satire perfectly. And if you come from a small remote town in Mexico, you REALLY understand it.

So I applaud this film's producers for attempting to bring light to Mexico's underlying social problems. However, this film is very flawed.

For starters, 3 hours and 11 minutes is WAY too long for a comedic satire. Even TWO hours might have been way too long. So that right there was the film's major undoing.

The plot itself strikes me as odd (and yes, I fully know it is satire). The entire extended family in the small mining town is basically dirt poor. But the deceased grandfather is secretly filthy rich with who knows how many millions in gold and property. And he decides to leave it all to the one person in the family who needs it the LEAST?? I get that this is satire and it is meant as a subtle jab as to how poorly the country of Mexico manages its riches in reality. I get that. It still doesn't make sense. But I get that.

The only way I can make sense of this movie is that the producers used this film as a subtle way to say F YOU!! To Mexico's ignorant and selfish ways. They are trying to tell you that Mexicans only look out for themselves and no one else. And that's why Mexico is the way it is now.

It is grossly exaggerated. But there is SOME truth to that. For far too long, Mexico has failed to properly invest in itself because so many of their nation's richest people know that everyone else is just itching to take their money away at every turn. So instead of investing in the future of their country, they hoard it all for themselves instead.

So if that's what this film's message is, then I think I understood that part. But I didn't need 3 hours and 11 minutes of bland comedy to understand it.

I think the movie is really well done, with a great production and actors. Luis Estrada is amazing, but I was really dissatisfied with this film. Even though it is a sitcom, I really believe in the current times this kind of Mexican stereotypes do not exist anymore. This family and the town is not an actual current reality as it is shown. I am Mexican and I find this movie a little offensive and gives a wrong idea of what Mexico is. I think with the talent of Estrada, there was a big opportunity to show the best of our country and not always talk about the bad stuff. He has done politic criticism in previous films which I really feel greatful for, but this was not the case, this show social problems we have but not with tactical. I think there were things that where not really necessary to make people laugh. I don't mind the three hours, I mind the that is not congruent trying to show some reality but showing characteristics that I don't feel consistent. I do this review with all respect and open to hear opinions. I have plenty of examples to discuss about this film to support my review. Anyways I really wish success and that people don't carry this crazy idea about Mexico worldwide. We are much better that what it's shown in this movie.

Each character in the movie is a symbol, an avatar of the many aspects of Mexico and it's people.

It feels like a dream, like a nightmare.

It uses cartoonish characters to make a point.

I don't think foreign audiences would be able to enjoy this movie as the language used and the symbols will be lost in translation.

Mexicans on the other hand will understand even tiny cameos of things and people in the movie.

This is not a subtle movie in any terms. Its very much in your face and it's better understood as satire.

I would like the director to make a movie about southeast Mexico, with actors from the area.

All formula tends to wear off. Director Estrada ran out of fresh ideas and this time he repeats what had worked for him in previous films only to make it clear that his style has become anachronistic.

A failed farce that is incapable of presenting a decent character build. Manichaean characters that remain in unfinished cartoons, cartoonish, mere stereotypes.

It is impossible for the viewer to empathize with this group of unsympathetic and unpleasant characters and with scatological scenes that border on the vulgar.

The only challenge the film presents is for the viewer's bladder. In an exercise in overflowing narcissism, the director makes a 190-minute tape! How if it were an epic of The Lord of the Rings. An excess considering the plot poverty it offers.

Even solvent actors like Alcázar and Cosío, despite each playing several characters, can do little in the face of the mediocrity that the script offers them.