Post by Vits on Jun 1, 2020 13:06:27 GMT
RICOS DE AMOR (RICH IN LOVE) is a clichéd and badly-paced rom-com that has only 1 or 2 funny moments and some shots that made me question why they were framed that way. Admittedly, if those were the only flaws, I could just forget about it and move on. What makes this memorably bad is how it tries to tackle current real-life problems... failing miserably. You see, 2 guys named Teto and Igor are best friends. The former is rich and the latter is poor. When they get an internship, they switch identities because Teto wants to make sure he doesn't receive any special treatment. Alana, the job recruiter, truly is a workplace predator. Teto falls for a woman named Paula and pretends to be poor with her as well (although he tells her his real name) to make sure she likes him for who he is. She's a doctor whose superior, Victor, constantly hits on her and offers her opportunities for "something" in return. Even though it's a comedy with exaggerated situations, you can tell that screenwriters Bruno Garotti (who's also the director) and Sylvio Gonçalves are still trying to ground things in reality.
1/10
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In fact, someone doesn't get hired despite their skills. Wouldn't you know it, it's a woman. And wouldn't you know it, she's black. Her name is Monique. Paula eventually stands up to Victor without reporting him, which comes off as unrealistic. Even if this took place in a pre-#MeToo world, there are enough witnesses, so Paula shouldn't worry about being called a liar. Alana is much less subtle whenever she makes a move on Igor. Some of you will probably say that it's a different situation since the genders are reversed, which would be stupid. However, Igor always looks uncomfortable. They eventually sleep together and the movie shifts. The idea now seems to be that Igor is uncomfortable because he doesn't want the lie to be exposed, rather than being a harassment victim. Why make this change? Paula learns the truth and breaks up with Teto. When she gets a job offer out of town, Teto goes to find her and apologize. I give the movie credit for not making this the climax and not have them make up right before she leaves. Alana learns the truth when she offers Igor a job. Igor turns it down and recommends Teto, but he turns it down too. Quite admirable. Does Alana get punished in any way? Nope. She starts a new business with Teto, Igor and Monique and she marries Igor. Whaaaaat?! This is outrageous! Why is the movie now presenting them as a real couple?! Because she's a woman so what she did isn't harassment?! I guess there's a double standard after all. Also, a wedding less than a year after meeting? Speaking of rushing things, Paula shows up and she and Tito get back together. I feel like they should have a long conversation first. Instead, it ends with a helicopter shot that was the perfect spot for the end credits (at least the first section), but they instead make us wait for what feels like an eternity to roll them (once the screen has faded to black). By the way, Teto and Teodoro, his father, had a falling out when the latter thought that the former hadn't grown up, after trying to make him act like an adult throughout the movie. Why is this never solved?
1/10
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