Once I learnt that "Two is a family" was a remake of a Mexican film, I understood all the mixed feelings I had while watching it. It does have that forced happiness and joy that all Mexican telenovelas seem to have, in which people go from laughter at tears in one blink. But that's not the point here. The thing is: the movie goes everywhere. It should be about a man's redemption, regarding his reckless behavior and lying tendencies. Then I thought it should be about a mother returning to take away a loving daughter from her brave dad, and it became a court drama. But soon after it was about dad letting go of the girl, and in the final chapter it becomes something else. So I went to watch some of the original's scenes (I don't mean to be mean, but truth is I wouldn't find Eugenio Derbez, with that weak chin, a womanizer... it wouldn't convince me, latino or not latino). I wish it had a plot which was straightforward, because there's a big message in there, something that is always delicate and heartbreaking whenever you find it in art (literature, cinema). The message doesn't even get to you, because the main character never really redeems himself. However, some of the moment were truly tender and beautiful, both Omar and Gloria Colston completely steal the scene, and supporting actors like Clémence Poésy and Antoine Bertrand were very intense and solid as well, in their portraits. I just felt the direction was sometimes lost and the voice went shaking, I didn't find what was being delivered was pertinent or interesting at times (like the school scene with Sam being the new janitor at Gloria's school, or the scene in which Sam jumps off a 11th floor). Overall I felt the movie was too long, that story could've been beautifully packed, it had lots of potential, but I somehow feel it got lost behind all sparkles and fireworks, easy laughter and Omar's genuine talent to make us smile.
Review of Two Is a Family
