Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Carlos Camargo and his wife Lola are hiding secrets from each other – they are both owe a lot of money to people and cannot afford their current lifestyle. But when Carlos accidentally discovers a wad of cash in his office bathroom, he decides to take Lola and their two kids on a vacation. But can a stolen vacation be fun? Directed by Diego Graue, the 2023 Spanish film “Stolen Vacation” (Viaje Todo Robado) is a goofy family comedy set in the early 2000s.
Bruno Bichir is cartoonishly comical as protagonist Carlos Camargo, a working man living beyond his means, just so he can maintain an illusion of a good life. Ana Claudia Talancón plays his wife Lola, who is a home-maker and yet owes money to people. “Ma’am, you’re an addict. You have a gambling problem. Even I have children and work. You don’t work because you are a lazy bum.” Lola’s house-help tells her off in one of the most brutally honest and hilarious conversations in the film because Lola spends all the money her husband gives her on Bingo and can’t even afford to pay the help. The Camargo kids seem to be better than their parents, they are both scholarship students, while the younger daughter makes bootleg CDs for her schoolmates for quick cash, the older son Charlie (Germán Bracco) is studying to get into a good college in America.
“Stolen Vacation” feels like a 90s sitcom, both in terms of cinematography and script, offering steady laughs through its 97-minute runtime. However, it may prove challenging for those who prefer fast-paced comedies with “laugh-out-loud” jokes. Although Bruno Bichir is excellent as the middle-aged Carlos, desperately attempting to impress his own family with stolen money, but there’s a lack of camaraderie or comical spark between him and Ana Claudia Talancón. To be fair, Ana Claudia is amusing as the lazy gambling mom of two, but together, the lead actors fail to exude the domestic bond expected of a married couple.
Writer Santiago Mohar Volkow shines in subtly satirizing how Mexicans are obsessed with all things American. One of the funniest scenes involves the Camargo family entering America for their vacation. They all put their heads outside the car to breathe the air, agreeing that even the air feels different there. Later, at a burger joint, they exclaim about how Coca-Cola tastes better in America. Their vacation however turns out to be quite the nightmare, with Carlos running into several problems, the first of which is having their car being towed away and it’s not even theirs. In the end, they are forced to rush back home and face the music for their irresponsible action, but in a surprisingly smooth climax – “Stolen Vacation” ends on a “feel good” note.
You can stream the movie on Netflix.
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