Instructions
Not Included (2013/Lionsgate Blu-ray)
Picture:
B Sound: B+ Extras: C- Film: A-
Valentin
Bravo (Eugenio Derbez, who also directed) is a womanizer, known for
his philandering and famous one night stands. That is, until one of
his former lovers leaves a baby on his door step and disappears. Now
Valentin must enter (illegally) into America and search for the
mother, but that is nowhere near hard as taking care of a baby. As
he takes care and watches as baby Maggie grow, he learns a few things
himself and about caring for others, but the last thing he expected
is to fall in love with his child, and that sometimes the hardest
thing a parent can learn about a child ...is letting go.
In
Instructions Not Included (2013), Valentin is also no good,
lazy playboy and has a phobia of anything dangerous, including
anything that requires work and especially commitment, but all that
comes to a sudden end when he realizes he must become a father to his
daughter Maggie (Loreto Peralta). He journeys illegally to America
in search of Maggie's mother Julie, he takes a job as a stuntman to
provide for her and give her a happy life. After years pass, Julie
returns for Maggie, but now Valentin doesn't want to lose his
daughter... can it be he really is a good father?
This
was a comical story of a man over coming his fears and learning about
fatherhood. As he continues to search for the child's mother, he
amazingly somehow lands a high paying job, and for the love of a
daughter he faces and conquers his fears, but when the mother
actually returns, he fights for the right to be with his daughter,
but holds on to a secret that he can't even tell her. This was a
touching and funny film, and teaches the spirit of parenthood means
overcoming any trial/hardship for the love of a child. This was a
moderate hot and a moneymaker, yet hardly got national distribution,
but deserves better.
The
1080p 1.85 X 1 digital High Definition image was shot with an Arri
Alexa and looks pretty good for the kind of plain shoot it is, but
the DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1
lossless mix has more clarity and range than expected and is a nice
plus that likely helped it be a hit. Extras
includes commentary with Eugenio Derbez and a digital HD copy if you
want it.
-
Ricky Chiang
