This movie is a soul movie, wiithout a doubt.
It's a modern retelling of Sense and Sensibility, set in Los Angeles. Elinor (Nora) and Marianne (Mary) are Hispanics living in Beverly Hills, but when their father dies, they lose their money and have to live in the grungy, very Mexican side of LA. They don't really consider themselves "Mexican", so they have to adjust to the new culture.
Which is one of the many reasons I love it: because I absolutely adore Mexican culture.
It didn't have a wide release in theaters, and the critics weren't very kind. It's true, the acting isn't fantastic, but there is always a place for sweet romantic comedies with a happy endings. And there aren't enough of them.
I thought the movie translated the story into modern times beautifully. And I actually liked some of the characters more than in the other movies, and even the book.
Nora is appropriately level-headed and bookish. And she has some super-adorable outfits. The dynamic between the sisters was faithful to the book, and to real-life...my sister and I can testify to that.. : )
Mary is more materialistic than romantic, and the movie's only objectionable content is because of her. Her clothing is appalling, and her mouth isn't very clean. But she pulls off the whole foolish-girl-we-get-mad-at-but-love-anyway thing.
This movie actually made me like Edward. Which has never happened before. The plot changes make him much less in the wrong, and he is just the right amount of awkward, but still likable. As in, he didn't stand around with his shoulders hunched and his eyes darting around, looking for all the world like he was desperate for the nearest restroom. * cough, cough Hugh Grant. *
Okay, so this is making it obvious that I need to post about the '95 version of Sense and Sensibility. I can't believe I never have.
This Willoughby (named Rodrigo...hee hee) was a scumbag, through-and-through, which made it easier on me, since I wasn't tortured by his complicated psyche, his genuine love for Marianne, his heartbreaking expression when he abandons her, or his truly awesome hair. This Willoughby I could hate.
So it loses some of the complexity, but it's better for me. Because it's inconvenient loving Willoughby.
Colonel Brandon is Bruno, the next-door-neighbor who Mary disdains not because of his age or boringness but because he's rough-around-the-edges, he wears muscle shirts and stocking hats, is almost always dirty, and because his love for the Mexican culture (which she doesn't understand) is a huge part of him.
I say: bring it on. He was amazing. The only thing missing was a brutal, debilitating fist-fight with Rodrigo. That would have been nice.
P.S. His accent is wonderful.
Yeah, so. I loved it. You should try to snag it at a Redbox and see what you think.
Speaking of movies... Living Social has a great deal today for 2 movie tickets for $9. They had this offer available awhile ago and was able to use it to see Thor, in 3D! Two tickets for 9 bucks that you can use for a 3D movie is pretty sweet. Just saying.
