It's hard to say this exceeded expectations because I didn't know what to expect, but I was drawn to it on the strength of Mario Moreno. I was curious to see what the film did with his person and with his fame. It's a beautifully crafted story, and intertwining it with Todd's "hustling" to get "Around the World in 80 Days" to happen helps to bring out how Mr. Moreno's fame had gone beyond Mexico to where he was the figure who brought the production to the screen for Todd. Moreno's rise from obscurity to international fame is told in a finely crafted way. Oscar Jaenada is nothing less than brilliant as Mario Moreno the person, and Mario Moreno as the character of "Cantinflas." The entire cast is very well put together. The film has no weak spots. I grew up watching Cantinflas movies. This film does not disappoint - and it's no small feat. Trying to paint a screen portrait of Mario Moreno as other than a sequential narrative is a big undertaking. The story, the cinematography, the acting - all of a very high caliber.
Review of Cantinflas
