In Spanish with English subtitles
Mexican entertainer Cantinflas, also known as Mario Moreno, became a huge star in Mexico in the 1940s and '50s and was recognized as the Mexican Charlie Chaplin. The new biography film "Cantinflas" is often entertaining like the real Cantinflas was though you leave feeling you didn't see much of his personal life. The movie tells the story of Cantinflas (played here by handsome Spanish actor Oscar Jaenada), who from his humble origins on the small stage to the bright lights of Hollywood, became famous around the world - one joke at a time."Cantinflas" is a Mexican production and distributed by Pantelion, the Spanish-Speaking arm of Lionsgate, and the movie finds its way to Spanish-American audiences who may remember the charming Mexican comedian from another generation, best known to American audiences in the 1956 Best Picture winner, "Around the World in 80 Days." The movie focuses on his entertainment career, from his rise as a lowly theater assistant to a Chaplin-esque movie superstar in his native Mexico, and less on his personal life. As fascinating as the "80 Days" production with Mike Todd (played by "The Sopranos" star Michael Imperoli, the only noticeable American actor in this production) was, we care less about Todd's wooing of Elizabeth Taylor, played with striking detail by Uruguayan actress Barbara Mori, than about the creative genius that Cantinflas and his drive to become successful. Jaenada is a solid Cantinflas, capturing some of his looks and moves, but overall the movie "Cantinflas," which seems to have been done on the cheap, leaves you wanting more. Maybe it's time to rent "Around the World in 80 Days" again to see his true talent, which is a better tribute to him than this enjoyable piece of fluff that doesn't do him justice.
Wes's Grade: C
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