KaiMiddleton's review called this film 'charming' and I don't think I could have chosen a more appropriate way to describe it. However, you really need to stick with this film, as it starts off very slow....so don't turn it off if you think the movie isn't particularly good.
Before I get into the review, I should mention that although Cantinflas was a bit of a beloved national character in Mexico, I have never seen any of his films. So I really had no preconceptions about him. I only learned more about him after I finished seeing "Padrecito". I was surprised to learn, for instance, that when he died, the nation went into an unsurpassed period of mourning. Wow.
The film finds an elderly priest being informed that a young priest (Cantinflas) will be coming to his parish to become his 'assistant'. However, to the elderly priest, this really means the young man is coming to take his job. Because of this, the elderly priest is somewhat cold towards Cantinflas. However, the priest's sister is downright hostile--as are most of the people of the town. To make it even harder for Cantinflas are his odd ways--very odd for a priest. He just doesn't act very priest-like. Some of his ways were simply eccentric--and the town found them easy to criticize. A few of the ways, however, are hard to defend--such as his gambling to get parishioners to do what he wants (and it sure seems like he's cheating!). It's all very mod and hip--especially with his calls for economic justice. But, it's also very endearing and sweet. I could say more but don't want to ruin the plot. Suffice to say that by the end, he's won over the town and fixed everything--like some sort of social worker or 'fix-it' man.
Overall, the film is quite cute and clever and is apparently a slight reworking of the Hollywood film, "Going My Way". Certainly not a must-see, but a pleasant little film that was far better than I'd expected. It's clearly one of the best Mexican films I've seen--and shows that the country made far more than just Aztec Mummy and El Santo films!
Before I get into the review, I should mention that although Cantinflas was a bit of a beloved national character in Mexico, I have never seen any of his films. So I really had no preconceptions about him. I only learned more about him after I finished seeing "Padrecito". I was surprised to learn, for instance, that when he died, the nation went into an unsurpassed period of mourning. Wow.
The film finds an elderly priest being informed that a young priest (Cantinflas) will be coming to his parish to become his 'assistant'. However, to the elderly priest, this really means the young man is coming to take his job. Because of this, the elderly priest is somewhat cold towards Cantinflas. However, the priest's sister is downright hostile--as are most of the people of the town. To make it even harder for Cantinflas are his odd ways--very odd for a priest. He just doesn't act very priest-like. Some of his ways were simply eccentric--and the town found them easy to criticize. A few of the ways, however, are hard to defend--such as his gambling to get parishioners to do what he wants (and it sure seems like he's cheating!). It's all very mod and hip--especially with his calls for economic justice. But, it's also very endearing and sweet. I could say more but don't want to ruin the plot. Suffice to say that by the end, he's won over the town and fixed everything--like some sort of social worker or 'fix-it' man.
Overall, the film is quite cute and clever and is apparently a slight reworking of the Hollywood film, "Going My Way". Certainly not a must-see, but a pleasant little film that was far better than I'd expected. It's clearly one of the best Mexican films I've seen--and shows that the country made far more than just Aztec Mummy and El Santo films!