Search - Las Aventuras de Pito Perez on DVD

Comedy and Tragedy, with a Poetic Touch

Alejandra Vernon | Long Beach, California | 04/21/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Though very amusing in many scenes, this isn't typical German Valdez "Tin Tan" fare, with his Pachuco humor, but tells the story of a man who after many years away, goes back to his home town of Santa Clara in Michoacan, having become a destitute alcoholic rather then as he had hoped and planned, to return as a success, and to make his family proud. Instead, his mother has long gone to her heavenly reward, and his sisters have married and moved to the big city. In Santa Clara he meets Sr. del Rincon, who in exchange for a bottle a day, tells him the story of his many adventures. They mostly revolve around how he managed to get food (often with a quick wit and fleet fingers) and enough liquor to douse the pain in his heart. This becomes a little "Johnny one-note" for me, but it's saved by being quite poetic at times, the many good performances, and the overall merit of the film.

"Las Aventuras de Pito Perez" is directed by Juan Bustillo Oro, who also co-wrote the script which is based on Jose Ruben Romero's "La Vida Inutil de Pito Perez." Tin Tan is terrific as Pito, and as always, Andres Soler shines as Sr. del Rincon. Among the other notable cast members are Anabelle Guitierrez (Chucha), Lupe Inclan (Pelagia), Consuelo Guerrero (Jovita), and Eduardo Alcaraz (Padre Pureco). The audio/picture quality is excellent for its age. Tin Tan (1915-1973) was second only to Cantiflas as comedian in Mexico's Golden Era of Cinema, an era which produced some of the finest and most creative filmmaking the world has known. No subtitles available."