Aylmer to Zazzoo and Beyond: Instructions Not Included

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Instructions Not Included - Review

Instructions Not Included

(No se Aceptan Devoluciones)

(2013 - September 6 [USA])
Comedy | Drama

1 hr. 55 min.

(Spanish and English with English subtitles)

Rated: PG-13 Language, Thematic Elements and Sexual Content. Common Sense Media says OK for kids 13+. More on child suitability
Grade: A-

Director: Eugenio Derbez
Writers: Guillermo Ríos, Leticia López Margalli, Eugenio Derbez (contributing writer)
Stars: Eugenio Derbez, Karla Souza, Jessica Lindsey | See full cast and crew

Valentin (Eugenio Derbez) is Acapulco's resident playboy-until a former fling leaves a baby on his doorstep and takes off without a trace. Valentin leaves Mexico for Los Angeles to find the baby's mother, but only ends up finding a new home for himself and his newfound daughter, Maggie (Loreto Peralta). An unlikely father figure, Valentin raises Maggie for six years, while also establishing himself as one of Hollywood's top stuntmen to pay the bills, with Maggie acting as his on-set coach. As Valentin raises Maggie, she forces him to grow up too. But their unique and offbeat family is threatened when Maggie's birth mom shows up out of the blue, and Valentin realizes he's in danger of losing his daughter- and his best friend. (c) Official Facebook

One of the most enjoyable if not on of best films of the year, in my opinion. The critics have been mixed but slightly favorable with a 54% positive rating at Rotten Tomatoes, so far, but the audiences have given it a 96% approval rating. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a bit racy at the start but this is the story of a man's journey, about growing up, becoming responsible, learning what real love is. The racy start helps illustrate the contrasting life styles of that journey.

Early on in Valentin's life his father, Johnny Bravo, tries to teach his son to overcome his fears by throwing him off of the famed Alcapulco cliffs where the fabled cliff divers show off their machismo.

The lesson didn't quite take since Valentin as an adult is still terrorized by his fears and he continues to avoid confrontation and responsibility. One day one of his playboy flings, an American tourist named Julie, returns and presents him with his unplanned daughter. She asks him for $10 to pay for the taxi, she hands him the baby, Maggie, and she goes downstairs gets in the taxi and leaves for the airport. Valentin chases after her with Maggie in tow but Julie gets on her flight and leaves to Valentin's horror. His first thought is to find a way out. He decides to hitchhike with the baby to the USA, find the mother and return the baby. The Spanish title No Se Aceptan Devoluciones translates as No Returns Acepted, which is by the way a more suitable title than No Instructions Included, definitely more accurate description of the story.

He literally falls into a great paying job as a Hollywood stuntman and begins his transition into a responsible adult. Maggie grows on him and he on her. A very deep and devotional love develops until the fateful day when Julie breezes back into their lives. I don't want to spoil the story and its twists so I'll leave it at that.

Valentin has never talked badly about Maggie's mother, in fact he has built her up in Maggie's mind as some one quite incredible, he has written letters to Maggie from her mother faithfully every week. When Julie returns six years later, she is not quite the picture that Valentin has painted. She wants Maggie back and will do whatever it takes to get full custody.