mariixoxo When it comes to successful international movies here in the United States the one thing you will notice is the lack of international movies that truly "made it." It is not common to find foreign movies in theatres.The Latino movie industries are coming to break down doors, and Eugenio Derbez has made it clear. His story might have been smothered out in Mexico, but it roared here in the US. "Instructions Not Included" broke down the main entrance of this shut out and gave opportunity to all of these outside productions. It did not just fill theatres for one, two, or three weeks but for multiple weeks. My family and I went about a month after it's release date, and still the IMAX sized theatre room was completely filled. It has been four years since the come out of the movie, and still to this date it is one of my favorites.Considering this is a more upbeat, heart moving drama all cast members are witty and positive. Valentino, played by Eugenio Derbez, was a full Latin lover playboy that cared only for good times, and suddenly got his bubble burst when a blast from the past dumped a baby on his doorstep. Originally, Eugenio wanted a young boy to play the part of the young child, but seeing the spark he was desperately looking for in Loreto Peralta it was a no brainer she was perfect for the role. Maggie was not just his kid she was his motivator and best friend. Both their witty, sarcastic, jumpy personalities made them the power team; we received that true father-daughter bond and connection. Julie was the deadbeat mom that decided after six years to meet her child. If given the chance I would go into depth with all characters, but overall this was a solid, lovable cast. This is a story was created, directed, and produced by Eugenio Derbez, and it will make you fall in love a million times over. Apart from being a huge banger, it is a perfect movie to watch at home with your family. The movie did happen to have a primarily Spanish dialogue, which brought together all of the Hispanic community as one to support the movement. I do not know what was more hilarious the movie itself or watching my mom gasping for air and tearing up from all the laughing she was doing. You start off on Acapulco's gorgeous beach front, the home of Valentino, and like how I had said before this blessing in disguise is left with him. He goes off to LA in search of the mother to return the child, but in the process there was a terrible accident that opened his eyes and from there on forward that paternal love grew. It is him and Maggie against the world. Maggie, his translator, his mini agent in the stunt double industry, the girl that whips him into shape and made him grow up; she is not like any other six year old girl. Their lives were great until one day Valentino tries casting a woman for the part of Maggie's mother to lift the child's spirit takes a slight twist when her real mother shows up. Time passes and just about the mother is about to return to New York she claims she wants Maggie back. The perfect little world they once lived in, the dream team, had now been shattered. It might seem like an unoriginal plot, but the relationship Valentino and his daughter have is what pulls you into the movie and plays with your emotions when this happens. I do not want to reveal too much not, but let me just say the beginning of the plot maybe seem a tad cliché, but once you get to the falling action your heart gets ripped out of your chest. I do not want you to think it is one of those sad, slow moving dramas because it is not; it is a movie full of energy, jokes, sarcasm, and quirks. You will never stop laughing. I was a really big fan of the storyline and the tone to this movie! Another great thing about this movie is how it can relate to multiple generations. A lot of movies tend to just focus on one main audience whether it being just the youth or the more mature. This movie brings out a lot of elements your children will love, while also referencing more complex or older inside jokes, and past productions that will take the parents back like "Lola la trailera." Most movies now a days also either go from exposition to climax in a snap, or take forever to during the rising action and cut the falling short. There are a lot of hit and misses in the industry. The balance and timing of their movies is one reason that leads to such low ratings on rotten tomato. Rotten Tomato might have given it a 55%, but you could ask anyone who has seen it that fifty-five is a joke. I think the two hour movie was spot on and moved rather smoothly and had equal inputs in each part of the plot. To close up my review on this movie, overall, it is great and like I said earlier it is one of my favorites. My favorite part is the fact that after seeing all the success, with it raising twenty million dollars in two weeks, there has definitely been a bump in Latino productions here in the states. To all those who may not speak the language, I would still highly recommend you watch this movie. It is definitely worth reading two hours worth of subtitles.

Steven Torrey The movie starts out with Valentin's father teaching his boy to 'confront his fears'... The movie ends with the child dying. What is the worst fear a parent has: their child dying, their child kidnapped, their child murdered... Somehow, there is no way to confront those nightmare scenarios until they actually happen.But I saw a movie about a man, taking care of a child who was not his to begin with. Julie thinks the child is his--or can only remember Valentin as the last sex partner she had--but subsequent DNA shows him not to be the biological father.To raise his daughter, Maggie (played by Loreto Peralta) Valentin becomes a Hollywood stuntman, and Maggie acting as his coach and trouble shooter, reviving him when he faints from doing the stunt. And Loreto Peralta as 6 year old Maggie is a real scene stealer.Well, Julie decides now after six years old, she wants custody of the now six year old girl and shows up.Sadly, the child has some sort of (undisclosed) congenital birth defect and is soon to die. Valentin knows this but he does not wish to share this knowledge with Julie.The movie ends with Maggie, Valentin, and Julie on a Mexican beach, and Maggie dies in Valentin's arms. Essentially, Valentin had fallen in love with a stranger's child, Valentin had taken responsibility for a stranger's child. Add one more fear--being involved in some kind of cosmic dupe.The movie went way beyond the expectations for "Little Miss Sunshine"-- crotchety old man takes care of cute tike. It ended up challenging our notions of what it means to take care of another's child, what it means to fall in love with a stranger.I gave it ten stars for asking this ultimate question.

Andres Salama Entertaining Mexican comedy about an irresponsible Acapulco playboy slacker (Eugenio Derbez, who also directed), sleeping each night with a different woman, who one day sees a former US blonde paramour named Julie (Jessica Lindsey) arrive at his house bringing along her baby daughter called Maggie that she claims is their child. She flees instantly (after asking him 10 dollars for the taxi, a gag repeated several times in the film), leaving the daughter to him. He goes to the US with the baby in order to find her mother. He is unable to find her but he settles in LA with his daughter (whom we see grow up to become a cute 7 years old blonde played by Loreto Peralta) finding a job as a stunt double and becoming an unusual but loving dad. Eventually, more than half ways into the film, the also irresponsible Julie returns to fetch Maggie and the movie turns into a comedic Kramer vs Kramer. And the ending, unfortunately, goes completely against the tone of the rest of the movie, it looks gratuitous and it ruins an otherwise fine (if sometimes amateurish) comedy.

elenikaratabani An excellent movie for grown ups. A highly emotional script for people with children... Little "Maggie" plays beautifully and "Valentin", as her dad in the movie comes out in ways you wouldn't expect. The end blew me off - never expected it. It's not just another movie... It's one of those you get to see once in a lifetime and make you think a lot... Highly recommended! I loved the Spanish-English dialogs, I loved the fact that it switches from comedy to drama and, being a parent it does help me out focus on what's really important in everyday life... In one word? Amazing! Thank you for the experience and the different point of view, it's just what I needed right now.