This movie is exactly what happens when you mix a messy breakup, a desperate trip to Buenos Aires, and glorious early 2000s camp. It is a bit confusing but totally worth it just for the unapologetic drama and deadpan humor.
A Wild and Campy Trip to Buenos Aires
Imagine your ridiculously hot boyfriend goes out to buy cigarettes one night and just never comes back. That is exactly what happens to Dean, a graphic novelist who is already struggling with major writer's block and getting chewed out by his editor on his voicemail. Instead of trying to move on, he packs his bags and flies all the way to Argentina to find Pablo. What follows is a really weird, dark, and highly dramatic wild goose chase.
This movie from 2003 is a very strange mix of a mystery and a dark comedy. It does not take itself too seriously, which is a great thing because the plot gets pretty out there. From carrying around a machete to dealing with an Argentine mother who practically speaks in threats, the whole atmosphere feels like a campy soap opera crossed with a chaotic noir story. It is definitely flawed and a bit messy in places, but that honestly just adds to the charm if you are in the mood for something eccentric.
A Cast Full of Melodrama
David Sutcliffe plays Dean, and he really captures that desperate, unhinged energy of someone who refuses to let a bad breakup go. He is obsessed and frustrated, wandering through sex clubs and strange family estates trying to get answers. But the supporting cast is where the real magic happens. Sonia Braga plays Pablo's overbearing mother, and she is absolutely fantastic, throwing out lines that will just make your jaw drop.
We also have Antonio Sabato Jr. as Pablo, who basically exists in this film to look incredibly handsome and cause chaos, and he definitely delivers on that front. And of course, Jennifer Coolidge steals the show as Dean's aggressive, foul-mouthed editor, Louise. Even though her screen time is short, her deadpan delivery and aggressive voicemails are hilarious and give the movie some of its best laughs.
This is not a perfect cinematic masterpiece, and the story choices (especially toward the end) might leave you scratching your head. But if you want a bizarre, strangely cool mystery with lots of 2000s nostalgia, a dramatic tone, and unapologetic camp, grab a coffee and give this one a watch.
