Instructions Not Included

2013 "Life doesn't care if you're ready."
7.5| 2h2m| PG-13| en| More Info
Released: 30 August 2013 Released
Producted By: Filmax
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Synopsis

Valentin is Acapulco's resident playboy, until a former fling leaves a baby on his doorstep and him heading with her out of Mexico.

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Reviews

Exoticalot People are voting emotionally.
Tayloriona Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.
Delight Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.
Billy Ollie Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable
mariixoxo When it comes to successful international movies here in the United States the one thing you will notice is the lack of international movies that truly "made it." It is not common to find foreign movies in theatres.The Latino movie industries are coming to break down doors, and Eugenio Derbez has made it clear. His story might have been smothered out in Mexico, but it roared here in the US. "Instructions Not Included" broke down the main entrance of this shut out and gave opportunity to all of these outside productions. It did not just fill theatres for one, two, or three weeks but for multiple weeks. My family and I went about a month after it's release date, and still the IMAX sized theatre room was completely filled. It has been four years since the come out of the movie, and still to this date it is one of my favorites.Considering this is a more upbeat, heart moving drama all cast members are witty and positive. Valentino, played by Eugenio Derbez, was a full Latin lover playboy that cared only for good times, and suddenly got his bubble burst when a blast from the past dumped a baby on his doorstep. Originally, Eugenio wanted a young boy to play the part of the young child, but seeing the spark he was desperately looking for in Loreto Peralta it was a no brainer she was perfect for the role. Maggie was not just his kid she was his motivator and best friend. Both their witty, sarcastic, jumpy personalities made them the power team; we received that true father-daughter bond and connection. Julie was the deadbeat mom that decided after six years to meet her child. If given the chance I would go into depth with all characters, but overall this was a solid, lovable cast. This is a story was created, directed, and produced by Eugenio Derbez, and it will make you fall in love a million times over. Apart from being a huge banger, it is a perfect movie to watch at home with your family. The movie did happen to have a primarily Spanish dialogue, which brought together all of the Hispanic community as one to support the movement. I do not know what was more hilarious the movie itself or watching my mom gasping for air and tearing up from all the laughing she was doing. You start off on Acapulco's gorgeous beach front, the home of Valentino, and like how I had said before this blessing in disguise is left with him. He goes off to LA in search of the mother to return the child, but in the process there was a terrible accident that opened his eyes and from there on forward that paternal love grew. It is him and Maggie against the world. Maggie, his translator, his mini agent in the stunt double industry, the girl that whips him into shape and made him grow up; she is not like any other six year old girl. Their lives were great until one day Valentino tries casting a woman for the part of Maggie's mother to lift the child's spirit takes a slight twist when her real mother shows up. Time passes and just about the mother is about to return to New York she claims she wants Maggie back. The perfect little world they once lived in, the dream team, had now been shattered. It might seem like an unoriginal plot, but the relationship Valentino and his daughter have is what pulls you into the movie and plays with your emotions when this happens. I do not want to reveal too much not, but let me just say the beginning of the plot maybe seem a tad cliché, but once you get to the falling action your heart gets ripped out of your chest. I do not want you to think it is one of those sad, slow moving dramas because it is not; it is a movie full of energy, jokes, sarcasm, and quirks. You will never stop laughing. I was a really big fan of the storyline and the tone to this movie! Another great thing about this movie is how it can relate to multiple generations. A lot of movies tend to just focus on one main audience whether it being just the youth or the more mature. This movie brings out a lot of elements your children will love, while also referencing more complex or older inside jokes, and past productions that will take the parents back like "Lola la trailera." Most movies now a days also either go from exposition to climax in a snap, or take forever to during the rising action and cut the falling short. There are a lot of hit and misses in the industry. The balance and timing of their movies is one reason that leads to such low ratings on rotten tomato. Rotten Tomato might have given it a 55%, but you could ask anyone who has seen it that fifty-five is a joke. I think the two hour movie was spot on and moved rather smoothly and had equal inputs in each part of the plot. To close up my review on this movie, overall, it is great and like I said earlier it is one of my favorites. My favorite part is the fact that after seeing all the success, with it raising twenty million dollars in two weeks, there has definitely been a bump in Latino productions here in the states. To all those who may not speak the language, I would still highly recommend you watch this movie. It is definitely worth reading two hours worth of subtitles.
tho_ped This is one of those rare movies with a very heavy plot hidden beneath a seemingly shallow surface. At first it will seem like a bilingual Disney family plot - but it all wraps up so nicely and with serious food-for-thought that it has stayed with me for years. It comes highly recommended to anyone who needs to get the priorities straight and should be watched to the end.
Andres Salama Entertaining Mexican comedy about an irresponsible Acapulco playboy slacker (Eugenio Derbez, who also directed), sleeping each night with a different woman, who one day sees a former US blonde paramour named Julie (Jessica Lindsey) arrive at his house bringing along her baby daughter called Maggie that she claims is their child. She flees instantly (after asking him 10 dollars for the taxi, a gag repeated several times in the film), leaving the daughter to him. He goes to the US with the baby in order to find her mother. He is unable to find her but he settles in LA with his daughter (whom we see grow up to become a cute 7 years old blonde played by Loreto Peralta) finding a job as a stunt double and becoming an unusual but loving dad. Eventually, more than half ways into the film, the also irresponsible Julie returns to fetch Maggie and the movie turns into a comedic Kramer vs Kramer. And the ending, unfortunately, goes completely against the tone of the rest of the movie, it looks gratuitous and it ruins an otherwise fine (if sometimes amateurish) comedy.
m-franchesca1 this movie was absolutely fantastic. at the beginning i had no idea what was going on. at first i thought my mother had dragged me into another cliché Latino movie. but then i saw that it had real meaning especially towards those who have separated or are separated parents. this movie gives a real insight into the child's mind. it shows the parent mind as well. how they console and comfort the child, and how the child can do the same for the parent. it sure is a tear jerker though. but overall i loved it and it was a beautiful movie, casted, written, and directed perfectly. i hope more movies come out like this and are Oscar nominated.