Yucatán (film)

Yucatán
Theatrical release poster
Directed byDaniel Monzón
Written byJorge Guerricaechevarría
Daniel Monzón
Produced byÁlvaro Augustin
Ghislain Barrois
Jesus Ulled Nadal
Edmon Roch
Javier Ugarte
Starring
CinematographyCarles Gusi
Edited byMapa Pastor
Music byRoque Baños
Production
companies
Buena Vista International Spain, S.A.
Gummo Films
Ikiru Films
Telecinco Cinema
La Terraza Films
Yucatán La Película, A.I.E.
Distributed byHispano FoxFilm
Release date
  • August 31, 2018 (2018-08-31) (Spain)
Running time
129 minutes
CountrySpain
LanguageSpanish
Box office€5.1 million

Yucatán is a 2018 Spanish comedy film directed by Daniel Monzón from a screenplay by Jorge Guerricaechevarría and Monzón which stars Luis Tosar, Rodrigo de la Serna, Joan Pera, and Stephanie Cayo. The plot follows a group of scammers who embark on a cruise ship to defraud and steal the money of an old baker who recently won millions of euros in the lottery.[1] It was filmed mostly onboard Pullmantur Cruises's MS Sovereign and on location in the ports where the ship docked on its route.

Plot

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Clayderman (Rodrigo de la Serna) is a con man who, together with his wife Verónica (Stephanie Cayo), works on board the MS Sovereign as a pianist. He uses his position as a crew member to commit petty crimes against the passengers. In Barcelona, Lucas (another scammer) discreetly enters the ship disguised as a crew member. Almost at the same time, Antonio and his family come on board as regular passengers. Clayderman, Lucas, and Verónica have a past together when they used to "work" as a group, but they split up when both Clayderman and Lucas fell in love with Verónica.

As soon as Clayderman finds out that Lucas is on board, he is sure that his old friend is planning a new scam. He starts to investigate and finds that Antonio, an old baker who recently won 161 million euros in the lottery, is on board with his family. From this moment on, Clayderman, Lucas, and Verónica (assisted by their allies) start a competition to see who can defraud and steal the old man's money first.

Cast

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Production

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Most of Yucatán's scenes were filmed onboard Pullmantur Cruises's MS Sovereign cruiseship [2] during a transatlantic crossing from Brazil to Spain. The actors and crew embarked on April 10, 2016 in Recife and spent 22 days shooting the film, disembarking in Barcelona. The film team of about 100 lived aboard the ship during this time. The ship carried out its regular activities; the crew and passengers became part of the film, and even appeared as extras in some scenes.[3]

Release

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Box office

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Distributed by Hispano FoxFilm,[4] Yucatán was released in Spain on August 31, 2018. In its opening weekend, it grossed $1,240,253, finishing at #1 at the Spanish box office.[5] In its second weekend, it grossed $1,071,148, a dropping to #2.[6] After seven weeks, it had grossed more than €5.1 million in Spain alone,[7] becoming 2018's seventh-highest-grossing Spanish film.[8]

Reception

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Carlos Boyero of El País wrote: "I think I understand what Daniel Monzón has proposed, but the result seems devastating. Nothing works in this weary plot, null of grace, with interpretations that move between the inane and the grotesque".[9] Xavi Sánchez Pons from the website "Sensacine" did not like the film either, giving it two out of five stars with the explanation: "In Yucatan, all of the comedic gags are forced and lack any kind of surprise effect".[10] Sergio F. Pinilla of Cinemanía liked the film, giving it four out of five stars and commenting: "With non-stop fun, there's the glamour of the musical, the absurdity of romantic comedies, [intrigue] and even animated cartoon slapstick in Yucatán".[11] Noel Murray of Los Angeles Times wrote: "From the exotic ports of call to the occasional musical numbers, “Yucatán” is a mostly enjoyable ride. It's meant to be a throwback to glamorous old Hollywood movies.".[12] Jordan Hoffman of TV Guide wrote: "It's virtually impossible not to be amused by this picture. Like the limitless buffet and late show with dancing girls, it's a simple pleasure, but one with guaranteed success."[13] Sergi Sánchez of Fotogramas gives the film four out of five stars and comments: "[Daniel Monzón] has an infinite affection, not condescension, for his characters and a remarkable empathy for the lights and shadows of the human condition".[14]

Yucatán was nominated for one Gaudí Award in the category of "Best Production Manager (Millor Direcció de Producció)".[15][16]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ de las Heras Bretín, Rut (31 August 2018). "Daniel Monzón: "'Yucatán' no es una búsqueda desesperada del chiste"". El País (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 13 January 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  2. ^ Manuel Fernández, Juan. "YUCATÁN la nueva película de Daniel Monzón en el Sovereign de Pullmantur cruceros". iCuceros (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 13 January 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  3. ^ Ausfet, Andrea (18 June 2018). "Yucatán, la 'Cruise Movie' que se Rodó en una Travesía del 'Sovereign'". Noticias de Cruceros (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  4. ^ "'Yucatán' – estreno en cines 31 de agosto". Audiovisual451. 29 August 2018. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  5. ^ "Spain Box Office August 31–September 2, 2018". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on 13 January 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  6. ^ "Yucatan – Spain Weekend Box Office". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on 13 January 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  7. ^ "Yucatán". Catálogo de Cinespañol. ICAA. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  8. ^ Hopewell, John (2 January 2019). "Spain's Box Office Dips Slightly in 2018". Variety. Archived from the original on 13 January 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  9. ^ Boyero, Carlos (September 2018). "¿Dónde está la gracia?". El País (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  10. ^ Sánchez Pons, Xavi. "Yucatán". Sensacine (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 13 January 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  11. ^ Pinilla, Sergio. "Yucatán". Cinemanía (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 13 January 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  12. ^ Murray, Noel (14 February 2019). "Yucatán". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 21 February 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  13. ^ Hoffman, Jordan. "Yucatán". TV Guide. Archived from the original on 2019-02-21. Retrieved 2019-02-21.
  14. ^ Sánchez, Sergi (27 August 2018). "Yucatán". Fotogramas (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 21 February 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  15. ^ "Edmon Roch nominated for Best Production Management at the Gaudí Awards for Yucatan". Ikiru Films. Archived from the original on 13 January 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  16. ^ "Gaudí Awards – 2019 Awards". IMDb. Archived from the original on 18 March 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
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