Instructions Not Included - B-

Rated PG-13, 120 minutes
In Spanish with English subtitles

Sweet "Instructions Not Included" strikes both a goofy and dramatic tone

Eugenio Derbez

Popular Mexican actor Eugenio Derbez may not be a familiar face to American audiences, but it's a good time to become familiar with him in the charmingly sentimental and overlong "Instructions Not Included," or it's alternate title, "One Man and a Kid." Valentin (Eugenio Derbez) is Acapulco's resident playboy, until a former fling named Julie (Jessica Lindsey) leaves a baby girl named Maggie with him and takes off. Valentin leaves Mexico with Maggie to find Julie in Los Angeles, ending up a famous stuntman in movies to raise his now precocious 7-year old daughter (Loreto Peralta). Julie shows back up to be in Maggie's life, but threatens to break Valentin and Maggie's strong father-daughter bond. Directed, co-written and starring the handsome Derbez, the touching and amusing "Instructions Not Included" is essentially a smarter, telenovela version of Sandler's "Big Daddy." More than just a fish out of water story, it starts off as a broad, silly comedy then in later chapters switches gears to serious as it explores child custody and relationship issues. Derbez is a very likable actor who unlike Sandler, doesn't rely entirely on physical humor to make a point, which is refreshing. As an inexperienced film director, he tends to let scenes ramble on, resulting in an overlong, occasionally choppy film (one minor character's incessant muttering is funny though). It's also very heartwarming, but some may be thrown by its bittersweet twist in the final minutes of the film, though really it had been there all along. "Instructions Not Included" is too long and little uneven, but it's a sweet movie you should put on your list to see, acceptable for children 10 and over. And as a side note, a fictional movie character featured here, "Aztec Man," will have a spinoff film next year also directed by Derbez.

Wes's Grade: B-