Pulling Strings (2013)

Fantastic!

As Good As It Gets

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Would you like a nice date night flick? Look no further than "Pulling Strings"! It's sweet and clever and is a great prelude to a night of good lovin'!Jaime Camil stars as Alejandro, a professional Mariachi singer living in Mexico City. He knows this isn't the best life, as he's also a widower trying to raise his young daughter, so he wants to visit family in the States and leave his daughter with them. However, his request for a VISA was denied by a US Embassy bureaucrat who barely gave him a chance.A short time later, this same bureaucrat, Rachel (Laura Ramsey) has been promoted and her coworkers throw a big party for her...complete with a Mariachi band. Well, like you expect in a movie, Alejandro happens to be the singer and during the course of the evening, Rachel gets totally smashed. In fact, when Alejandro leaves the party to go home, he finds her asleep on a bench at a bus stop...definitely not a good idea anywhere but a horrible idea in Mexico City! Alejandro is a good guy and tries to help by calling her a cab. But she is so drunk, he can't even find out where she lives, so he brings her home. When she awakens, she is not surprisingly shocked to find herself in a strange man's apartment...she is also shocked to find that her boss' computer, which he gave her for safekeeping, is missing...and she had it with her at the bus stop! So nice-hearted Alejandro takes her across Mexico City looking for it....and the city is one of the biggest cities in the world! So what's to come of all this? See the film.This is a highly unusual film because it's not so much a Mexican film with some Americans in it or vice-versa. It's more like an American cast and a Mexican cast being brought together for a movie....and it works very well. Plus, it gives you a nice look at the Mexicans in this mega-city...warts and all. Very sweet, very original and, at times, very romantic. Well worth your time.

Spanish Bilinguals Only: Do you watch movies with subtitles on or off? I often watch movies that Hispanic Filmmakers make and force Luzette Portillo to watch them with me. Usually her choice is Horror films , foreign or domestic, but I love Romantic Comedies so I leave subtitles on so that she can keep up with the plot. It usually distracts me, because I want to read vs listen. So sometimes I feel like I lost something in the translation. Today I took the subtitles off and watched this film as it was recorded. I am so happy I did , because both languages were spoken. I could familiarize with the day to day chores and switching languages back and forth on a whim depending on the place, person or situation I find myself in. This really was a nice surprise. I felt very comfortable watching the film and wonder if Non- Spanish speakers would find it as funny as us who understand Spanish and English. Tom Arnold, Stockard Channing (Rizo, from GREASE) guest star in this hilarious comedy about a Mariachi man wanting to get a VISA to send his daughter to the U.S. It enlightens us who wonder why people take a chance and cut through the red tape of doing it legally. The movie doesn't focus too much on the immigration issue. That makes the film even more delightful to see that not all Mexicans want to be in the U.S. Mexico City does have a big population and they are not all climbing the wall to come here. Hope you take time to watch this movie. The happy ending is not what you would expect and romantic comedies tend to be predictable, this one is not!

I am shocked at low rating on IMDb. I don't usually dish out high ratings easily so for me this was a winner hands down. I have been hoping to see a movie that is entertaining, sweet, romantic and fun, and this was all of that and more. For anyone who is an immigrant to US the movie will bring back some memories. The moment of "Yay" vs. "Nay" when facing the immigration officer is stressful and memorable one for most. That however is just the premise to launch into some sweet and fun comedic adventure. I wish there was more of a pleasant culture shock highlighted in the movie. Yeah the people were nice and Tostadas from a small stand were good, and common use of Mariachis was fun, but there could have been many more opportunities to endear the audience to best of Mexico's culture. The way people interact there was captured beautifully. People were not as uptight and bit more warm and friendly. Friends would do anything for each other, and how with little that some have, how much more happy they can be with that than so many people who have lot more and aren't. None of this was specifically highlighted, but was there to see for anyone paying attention.In the end movie is just an excuse for romantic, cute, comedic love story and it delivers completely satisfying and enjoyable experience.The best moment for me was the senior couple sitting next to me in the movie theater. When in the end, the Hero is begging the girl for another chance, couple sitting next to me answered in unison with an emphatic "yes" with both hands extended towards the screen! If this movie can't find a place in audiences hearts, then we have a problem....and it is not the movie!

I saw Pulling Strings today, knowing little about it and having seen no trailers. It sounded like something I'd enjoy, and I did. The male and female leads give pitch perfect performances; you'll know right away they are made for each other. The male lead (a single dad with an adorable young daughter) has a very funny sidekick - you'll love the sound effect his car makes. The female lead has a fun "buddy," too.The story is set in Mexico City. It begins at the immigration window at the US Embassy and takes off from there. A missing laptop is a major plot point. Mariachi music is another. I loved the romantic elements in the movie and the comic elements made me laugh out loud many times. All of the characters are wonderful.This is a great "date night" movie, but obviously, singles will like it, too. I had a ball. One more thing: Much of the dialogue is in Spanish with subtitles, but please, please, don't let that put you off. You'll have great fun watching Pulling Strings!