How to Be a Latin Lover Blu-ray Review

Lionsgate presents "How to Be a Latin Lover" on Blu-ray with an exceptional 2.40:1 AVC encoded transfer. The film, shot on Arri Alexa cameras, displays a sharp and clear image throughout. The high-definition video showcases a stunningly vibrant palette of colors, particularly notable in the bright reds and yellows, such as the red muscle shirt and Maximo's banana yellow speedo. The level of detail is impressive, capturing every facial wrinkle and silver hair with precision. Blacks are deep and inky, contributing to an overall visual clarity that almost feels tangible.

Color saturation is superb, with deeply saturated primaries that pop off the screen. Fleshtones, while having a slightly bronzy quality, remain natural without appearing exaggerated. The contrast is well balanced, enhancing both brightly lit exterior scenes and shadows in low-light settings without sacrificing detail. The presentation maintains a strong resolution, showcasing sharp images with appreciable delineation throughout. Any instances of color banding are minimal and do not detract from the viewing experience, as there are no significant compression errors or distracting video anomalies.

The AVC encoded 1080p transfer ensures traditionally sharp and detailed imagery, enhanced by a wide color palette and excellent fine detail. Notably, scenes with bright elements, like the matching pink-purple suits of Maximo and Hugo, demonstrate outstanding saturation. A few digitally tweaked moments heighten comedic effects, such as the flashes of light during Raquel Welch's introduction. There's minimal use of soft focus on older actresses' close-ups, revealing their facial details candidly. However, the final reunion scene appears softer, likely due to location photography. Overall, this Blu-ray presents a particularly energetic and detailed viewing experience.

The multi-channel lossless audio presentation of "How to Be a Latin Lover" is competently executed with thoughtful attention to detail. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track provides a tonally rich dialog that is both clear and excellently penetrative. The front channels predominantly manage the audio, offering a broad, two-dimensional soundstage that capably handles the film's essentials. Dynamics are punchy, ensuring that the bass response appropriately supports the music without overwhelming other elements. Surround channels add depth through ambient detail, enhancing the immersive experience.

While the audio won't push your surround sound system to its limits, it adeptly delivers the essentials. Noteworthy scenes, such as a lively party featuring Weird Al Yankovic, showcase skillful placement of surround effects and good separation of source cues. Propulsive percussive elements ensure an effective low-end performance. Dialog remains cleanly delivered and well prioritized throughout, cementing this as a capable and fitting audio mix that complements the film’s narrative and visual elements.

The Blu Ray extras for "How to Be a Latin Lover" provide a well-rounded exploration of the film's production and additional content for fans. The Audio Commentary featuring Director Ken Marino, Producer Ben Odell, and Editor John Daigle offers insightful behind-the-scenes knowledge and the creative processes involved. The "Show Me Your Sexy! Learning How to Be a Latin Lover" Featurette is a typical EPK, enriched with various clips and engaging interviews, enhancing the viewer’s understanding of the film's fun aspects. "A Little Help from My Friends" Featurette highlights the contributions of Marino's acting friends in the extensive supporting cast. The Deleted and Extended Scenes section, substantial at over 33 minutes, provides additional context and entertainment.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: Featuring insights from Director Ken Marino, Producer Ben Odell, and Editor John Daigle.
• Show Me Your Sexy! Learning How to Be a Latin Lover Featurette: An EPK featurette with film clips and interviews.
• A Little Help from My Friends Featurette: Showcasing contributions from director Ken Marino’s network.
• Deleted and Extended Scenes: Over 33 minutes of additional content.

"How to Be a Latin Lover" is an unexpectedly enjoyable comedy that subverts initial low expectations through a charming combination of playful ethnic humor and physical comedy. Directed with a keen eye for sight gags and framed by a narrative rich in exaggerated stereotypes, the film stars Eugenio Derbez as Maximo, a man whose life of leisure as a gold-digging gigolo comes to an abrupt end when his elderly millionaire wife replaces him with a younger lover. The setup allows Derbez to shine with his impeccable comedic timing, even as he navigates some clichéd story beats. Notably, the chemistry between the cast members, including Salma Hayek as Maximo's exasperated sister and Rob Lowe as his equally hedonistic friend, adds an infectious energy that keeps the laughs coming, despite the occasional misfire.

The plot takes us through Maximo's journey from riches to rags, forcing him to adapt to a life without the pampered comforts he's grown accustomed to. His attempts to find a new "sugar mama" are continually thwarted, leading to a series of comedic escapades that highlight both Maximo's superficiality and his gradual, reluctant adaptation to a more grounded existence. The involvement of Rob Riggle and Rob Corddry adds some memorable if slightly underutilized performances, while cameos from Kristen Bell and Michael Cera contribute additional layers of humor. The film's strength lies largely in its vibrant visual storytelling and well-executed physical gags reminiscent of Charlie Chaplin and the Three Stooges.

However, it isn't without flaws. Some jokes fall flat, and certain characters feel underdeveloped, such as Raquel Welch's wealthy widow and Rob Corddry’s chauffeur. Additionally, while the physical comedy often hits the mark, some verbal exchanges lack punch and coherence. Despite these shortcomings, "How to Be a Latin Lover" provides enough consistent laughter and engaging performances to make it a worthwhile watch for fans of breezy, stereotype-skewering comedies.

"How to Be a Latin Lover" delivers a surprisingly enjoyable comedic experience, bolstered by strong technical specifications provided by Lionsgate. This film, directed by Ken Marino and starring Eugenio Derbez and Selma Hayek, embraces a simple style of physical humor that, while cheesy, resonates with authenticity and heart. The ensemble cast, barring a few exceptions like Rob Riggle, excels in their comedic roles, exceeding expectations and elevating the film's entertainment value.

The Blu-ray release offers an impressive 2.40:1 AVC aspect ratio and robust audio options including English: Dolby DTS-HD MA 5.1 and Spanish DD 5.1. The consistent high-quality production ensures an engaging visual and auditory experience. With a runtime of 116 minutes, the movie maintains a steady pace that avoids overstaying its welcome, making it a delightful watch for comedy fans.

Ultimately, the film’s appeal may hinge on viewers' tolerance for slapstick humor akin to the Three Stooges. While the humor might seem silly to more discerning tastes, scenes such as the Stooge-esque face slapping sequence can be hilariously effective for others. Eugenio Derbez deserves special mention for his ability to render a potentially unlikable character endearing. Overall, "How to Be a Latin Lover" emerges as a sweet and unexpectedly touching comedy.

As I said, I really expected "How to Be a Latin Lover" to be a complete and utter train wreck. And while it does have quite a few comedic clichés blended in, I had a great time with the movie. Everyone is simply having a blast with their characters, and besides the inclusion of Rob Riggle, everyone is hilariously funny as well. It’s a simple style of physical humor that is very cheesy, but it rings true to the heart and everyone involved does so much better than I ever was expecting. Lionsgate has done a phenomenal job with the technical specs, and it gives me pleasure to give it a solid thumbs up as a fun comedic watch.