El padrecito (1964)
7/10
Good-natured and warmhearted Cantinflas comedy , here playing an atypical and likeable priest
15 May 2021
Nice and entertaining farce upon a sympathetic priest with good intentions who comes in a tiny Mexican village to replace another oldest priest : Antonio Garasa . The Padrecito Cantinflas is a good-feeling reverend sometimes resorting to wordly solutions to problems . Along the way our Padrecito talks directly to God , makes good acts , helping people , fine assistance , and clashes repeatedly with Antonio Garasa. Meantime , the Padrecito takes on a powerful and nasty wealthy owner who eventually reunites neighbours to expel the rebel priest . Here Cantinflas is simply the coolest priest ever !

A gentle, satisfying and agreeable comedy with a lot of humorous, enjoyable sketches about an unconventional priest who delivers goodness , help and happiness . It is the hilarious all new adventure of that imprudent , impish , impossible droll role magnificently played by the splendid Cantinflas. Most laughs are supposed to come from watching the priest do such outrageous things as card playing , betting , brawling and organizing peculiar tricks to get his attractive purports . This is a successful , though overlong satire, and in my opinion it results one on the best Mario Moreno Cantinflas movies . Alongside Cantinflas there appears some human and credible roles , special mention for Antonio Garasa with whom Cantinflas formed couple in several occasions , both of them perform two priests with virtues and shortcomings but above all human beings confrontating from opposite sides , as a traditional priesthood and a modern priesthood . This is a simple fun and exhilarating film about an unusual priest versus a mean wealthy owner along with other adventures and misfortunes shown in a mass collection of vignetttes . Cantinflas' career was very long from the Forties to Eighties . Throughout his fruitful career Cantinflas performed good-tempered and kind people , mostly low-class characters . Equally , he played motley roles with all kinds of jobs, as he was street cleaner , a teacher , a doctor, an actor , an extra , a scientist , a clown, a fireman , a porter , an elevador operador, a photographer , a prospector , cowboy , a student , Hotel manager , an Ambassador , Bellboy , a police officer , magician , a priest , among others . These roles to be interpreted in films as El Profe , Bombero Atómico, El Supersabio, El Analfabeto, El Extra , Sube Y Baja , El Conserje , El Mago, Por Mis Pistolas , El Circo, Su excelencia, El Señor Doctor , El Señor Fotógrafo , El Patrullero, Por Mis Pistolas , and his last one : El Barrendero.

The motion picture was competently directed by Miguel Maria Delgado in his usual style , and he was Cantinflas' ordinary filmmaker . Rating : 7/10. Above average Cantinflas movie . A childhood favorite , appointed to tremendous fans of the great Cantinflas. Essential and indispensable seeing .
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