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Drama/Mex Film Review

by Kam Williams

Acapulco Serves Backdrop for Bifurcated, Bittersweet Morally-Ambiguous Adventure

Unfolding over the course of one very eventful day in the decaying resort town of Acapulco, Drama/Mex relates a pair of imperceptibly interlocking tales about local ne'er-do-wells frittering away their futures in the tawdry tourist trap. One story revolves around Fernanda (Diana Garcia), a Latino version of Paris Hilton. This daughter of a Mexican hotel magnate is hanging out all alone at her sumptuous family estate when Chino (Emilio Valdes), an ex-boyfriend, shows up uninvited and starts pressuring her to make love.

She reminds the intruder that she already has a new beau, Gonzalo (Juan Pablo Castaneda), a yuppie who knows how to treat her like a lady. Chino's response is to rip off her clothes and to take her against her will. Halfway through the sexual assault, she begs the creep at least to put on a condom, whereupon he callously responds, "I'm raping you, bitch."

Yet, when he's through, the indecisive debutante chooses to share a cigarette with the admitted gigolo who had previously used her to steal money from her father. And after a brief interlude, rather than call the cops, she opts to copulate with him again, apparently being hopelessly attracted to the bad-boy type.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the city, Jaime (Fernando Becerril), a suicidal, middle-aged bureaucrat, spits on his boss' desk after stealing the company payroll. He then heads home where he steals a kiss from his daughter before declining her invitation for an incestuous liaison. Instead, he packs a gun, bids his wife adieu and heads to the shore where he rents a motel room with every intention of killing himself.

Once there, however, he encounters 15 year-old Tigrillo (Miriana Moro), a "massage therapist" (Miriana Moro) on the prowl for rich tourists to offer oral relaxation before picking their pockets. Initially, she swipes Jaime's wallet but later 'fesses up, proving to be the proverbial prostitute with a heart of gold.

Will Fernanda wake up and dump Chino before Gonzalo finds out she's cheating on him? Will Jaime pull the trigger on the pistol he's holding to his head or will he be tempted to start over with the naughty nymphet? These are the questions contemplated by Drama/Mex, a movie constructed more like a French romance drama (talk... coupling... sex... smoking... uncoupling... more talk... more coupling... more sex... more smoking... etcetera) than one from south of the border.

The post-modern decor, such as the corny serenade scene featuring a mariachi band, leaves no doubt that the locale is cheesy Crapapulco. Yet, this morally-ambiguous adventure's cleverly-concealed, parallel powder keg plotlines are sufficiently compelling to keep you riveted to these loco losers' predicaments till the bitter end.

Excellent (4 stars)
Unrated
In Spanish and English with subtitles.
Running time: 93 minutes
Studio: IFC First Take

judythpiazza@newsblaze.com