"¡Que Viva Mexico!" Movie

"¡Que Viva Mexico!" Movie

"¡Que Viva Mexico!" is currently streaming on Netflix as a satirical drama. The film features actors Damian Alcazar, Alfonso Herrera, and Joaquin Cosio. The story revolves around Pancho, also known as Mr. Reyes, a self-made businessman thriving in Mexico City. He enjoys a comfortable life alongside his wife, who has a penchant for designer brands, their two children, and his position as a manager in charge of downsizing operations at a factory.

When Pancho's grandfather passes away, he returns to his hometown for the funeral and the reading of the will. The inheritance announcement and how Pancho handles it form the film's crux, which has a runtime of 3 hours and 10 minutes.

This film is undeniably peculiar. The premise and initial setup are intriguing. Pancho goes to great lengths to avoid his father's calls, instructing his housemaid to lie about his whereabouts while experiencing nightmares about his father at night. The opening scene provides insights into Pancho's character. He has distanced himself from his humble origins and does everything possible to avoid reminders of his past.

As the frequency of his father's calls becomes overwhelming, Pancho reluctantly picks up the phone and learns of his grandfather's passing and final request for Pancho to attend the funeral. From this point onward, the director takes us on a journey through a highly exaggerated and stereotypical depiction of Mexico through Pancho's perspective. We are introduced to his incredibly annoying extended family, comprising many characters that are too numerous to recount. Pancho's grandmother stands out, mainly due to the comedic effect of crass and foul-mouthed elderly individuals. However, in this film, every character embodies such traits. None of them are likable, ranging from pedophiles to corrupt politicians. Once you watch it, you'll understand how grotesque the satire and humor are in this context.

At times, the main character, Pancho, reminded me of Antony Starr's portrayal in "The Boys" – someone who displays a wide range of expressions but appears emotionally detached. Pancho's wife embodies the entitled, blonde archetype and is disgusted by the village and its people. The father and mother, like the grandmother, also exhibit repulsive behavior, contributing to the grotesque nature of the characters. Essentially, Pancho's extended family aims to trick him out of his inheritance, while his father tries to convince him to reopen the mines where his grandfather once worked – another plot thread in the film.

I didn't particularly enjoy the film's satire. It feels excessively exaggerated in the wrong ways, lacking a character that could serve as a contrasting or neutralizing element. Everyone in the film is simply eccentric. There should be a normalization or counterpoint to the absurdity. Unfortunately, this film lacks that balance – Pancho and his immediate family aren't that characters. While the antics of his extended family are occasionally amusing, overall, the experience didn't resonate with me.

Additionally, the direction feels peculiar at times, with randomly distorted zoom-ins. The acting ranges from mediocre to good, but it's challenging to differentiate when the entire cast is immersed in offensive stereotypes and profanity. The initial sequence when Pancho returns home may highlight certain cultural similarities between Mexicans and Indians. These stereotypes tend to be offensive, albeit containing some truth, however minimal.

If you enjoy gross-out humor films, "¡Que Viva Mexico!" might be to your liking, but personally, it wasn't my cup of tea. The plot is somewhat engaging and keeps you interested until the end. Still, the characters prevent it from being a more captivating experience, particularly considering its lengthy runtime of three hours.