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Don't Tempt Me (Canadian Version)

TVA International // R // February 17, 2004
List Price: $24.90 [Buy now and save at Qksrv]

Review by Robert Spuhler | posted April 7, 2004 | E-mail the Author
The Movie:

Heaven is Paris, Hell is only mildly uncomfortable and the life of a misogynistic, empty-headed boxer could decide whether or not Hell will overtake Heaven. Somewhere in writer/director Agustín Díaz Yanes's comedy Don't Tempt Me (original Spanish title: Sin Noticias de Dios) is a fresh, funny comedy waiting to break out. But what is presented instead is nonsensical caper flick mixed with non-romance and convoluted theology.

The situation in Heaven is dire, with numbers dwindling and Hell claiming more and more souls. For an unexplained reason, Heaven "manager" Marina D'Angelo (Fanny Ardent) decides to make a stand with boxer/wife-beater Manny (Demián Bichir), sending angel/agent Lola Nevado (Victoria Abril). Down below, Hell "manager" Jack Davenport (Gael Garcia Bernal) is in trouble and trying to put down a potential overthrow (because Hell is … too successful?) and sends Carmen Ramos (Penelope Cruz) to try and keep Manny squarely in Hell's win column.

The movie reduces Heaven and Hell to competing soft drink companies, each looking for the most customers. Heaven is only slightly more morally demanding, asking that Manny only make up with his mother before ascending, eventually even forgoing that. So that's all that's needed to go to Heaven? He's an abuser, a liar and a cheat, but all of that is wiped away.

The situation in Hell is more confusing; numbers are up, but there's still a coup being planned? Why? No good explanation is offered. In fact, it comes off as a plot contrivance, since it is the only explanation that could make the second plot point even remotely make sense.

The reason that the muddled theology is so maddening is that there is nothing interesting going on here on Earth. Manny is in no sense likeable; when not beating up on women he's racking up debts to shady characters. Lola is placed on Earth as his wife, while Carmen is there as his cousin. The difference between Lola and Carmen? Carmen wears a t-shirt/jeans combination and may or may not be a lesbian. There's a distracting subplot/message about unionization, of all things, to add to the confusion, as both Lola and Carmen go to work at a local grocery store.

If there's anything salvageable about this film it is the performances. Cruz is excellent as the "sexpot" Lola, but Bernal steals the show as the riotously funny Davenport, while Abril's Lola is compassionate and as interesting as the writing will allow. Ardent and Bichir also stand out amidst the rubble.

The DVD

Video:

Soft, soft, soft. The focus looks slightly off throughout the film. In addition, the transfer to DVD clearly shows about a centimeter of "black bar" intruding into the frame from a prior transfer, as if the movie was shot in 1.78:1 but is presented in 1.85:1 (although the Internet Movie Database has the film being shot at 2.35:1). The packaging does not clear up the confusion; in fact, the box claims that it is shown in full screen. But hey, at least the subtitles aren't burnt into the picture.

Sound:

The Dolby 2.0 mix is respectable, though the dialogue needed a bit more emphasis in some of Hell's earlier scenes. It is in English, French, Spanish and Latin so nearly everyone will need subtitles at one point or another. The sound effects (gunplay, subway sounds, etc.) come across very well.

Extras:

Four filmographies and a trailer are the only extras included on the disc.

Final Thoughts:

At best, Don't Tempt Me is a few good actors wasted on a poor script. Díaz Yanes had a set of fun ideas, but the execution was so poor that the film ends up a disorganized mess.


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