Ana

There are some very bad movies out there and Ana or "The Guardian" is not one of them. The story is slight and the running time feels about 20 minutes over. It's not quite a comedy. The humour is spare and dark, playing more like drama for the most part with elements of South American magical realism.

Dafne Keen and Andy Garcia are cast perfectly, with an on-screen chemistry and individual performances that's are a real joy to watch. Garcia is perfectly sad, understated and beaten, while Keen is a chaotic bundle of innocence and guile. The movie rollicks along when the two of them are together in the same space (and begins to drag a little when they are not). The cinematography and shots of Puerto Rico are beautiful, from the broken slums to the lush jungle. There are several strands competing but this is, at heart, a road movie of sorts. At its best, it reminded me of Paper Moon.

This is so much more than a "5".

Other people have described the story enough if you decide to watch it. It'll be more enoyable if you know less about it. I'll just say this: there are a few minor plots hole, and some of the scenes aren't that well thought out, but overall it's a fun film, very intellegent and enjoyable. And it's well made and acted. I think I'll watch it again at the weekend when my girlfriend is around.

"Ok this is not a really good movie but still worthy to watch, some camera work are weird, some scene are kind a weird too, for the acting kinda in the middle sometimes good sometimes bad, now the story is very very out of concept , the ending for me is like outta nowhere, they just use the alternative story that very unexpected, like in the beginning the movie tell that they have to work hard to get this money but in the end they just put a simple ending, kinda disappointed but still fun to watch"

It is a predictable, mostly dull, small road trip movie with the occasional warm fuzzy in which you pretty much know where it's going to end up. But, with its Puerto Rico scenography, little bits of social & political commentary (against the church) and two relatively solid main characters with nice chemistry (Andy Garcia & Dafne Keen) movie is watchable. Garcia as character for me is pretty undeveloped, while the script needs some more ... punch. The second half speeds up a little bit, but introduces a weird subplot, trades realism for quirky (pit scene) and feels less meaningful. That is why at the end of film there was no real emotional resonance. Basically, movie started with the promise of more, but ended with an identity crisis while the execution made it like weekend TV afternoon movie vibe all over it.

Rating: 5+/6-

My wife and I enjoyed this smaller movie, we watched it at home on DVD from our public library. Garcia is in fine form as the used car salesman and young Keen is just perfect as the 11-yr-old whose mom can stay out of jail.

Jeanne Tripplehorn comes in more towards the latter stages, as Pastor Helen who is glad to use the young girl's "healing" to run a money-raising scam to illegally finance the election of a local politician.

The movie is a fun watch, they get into some interesting situations. This is much different from the bigger blockbuster movies and that is a welcome change of pace.