Busco novio para mi mujer

You don’t really want to film a sitcom, do you? You get a bunch of money; you spend weeks on end putting together the exact location and lighting and script together. You arrange all the trailers and catering and actors and crewpeople. It takes a great deal of effort to make a film, even a cheap one. Even one filmed in Mexico. And after all that effort, do you really want to film some cheap sitcom? Well, ok, it’s your dime.

I don’t know the Spanish word for “milquetoast,” but Paco (Arath de la Torre, the Mexican Martin Freeman) is the epitome of brindis de leche, knowwhatI’msayin’? His wife Dana (Sandra Echeverría) is the Queen and sole member of the New Shrew Review. Every day, Paco returns from his job as a used car salesman, sits at his table and listens to his wife bitch. She complains about, quite literally, anything … as demonstrated by her frustration with people who think it’s a coincidence when you share the same zodiac star sign. Dana also has boundary issues, demonstrated by her encroachment on Paco’s alone time in the bathroom to pee.

It’s hard to see how Dana got like this – she doesn’t work, study, or have a child. She doesn’t seem to be the victim of a great trauma. She simply does nothing and hates everything. Yeah, it’s a pretty comic portrayal. Finally, Paco has had enough. The guys tell him to ask for a divorce, but Paco isn’t made of that stuff. He decides instead to make the title happen: Busco novio para mi mujer (Seeking a boyfriend for my wife).  Following rumors, Paco solicits the skills of legendary lothario El Taiger (Jesús Ochoa). The object here is to have Mexican balding Meat Loaf here come in to woo Dana away from their marriage. Problem solved, right?

First, Taiger has to learn a little something about his conquest-to-be, which sets up a hilarious American Psycho joke for those in the know. What he needs to have happen is for Dana to do something … anything, so that he can “run into her” when he’s out-and-about. I feel a little squeamish thinking about Dana’s very selfish and petty reactions at Paco’s attempt to find her employment. Geez, lady, what could it hurt? You’re miserable and you contribute nothing to the marriage; the least you can do is feign playing ball.

I suppose that isn’t the point. It’s a comedy. It’s not terrible, but there’s nothing in this script that begs for a return. Is the American Psycho joke worth the price of admission? Maybe if you’re Christian Bale. Otherwise, no.

Paco and Dana and a roué
In a comedy not quite screwé
Mediocre jokes
All there is, folks
The lady or the tiger? Divorce fu-é

Rated PG-13, 92 Minutes
D: Enrique Begne
W: Enrique Begne, Leticia López Margalli, Gabriel Ripstein
Genre: Amor, en estilo Mexicano
Type of person most likely to enjoy this film: Shrews
Type of person least likely to enjoy this film: Jellyfish