Secondary Effects (2006) User Reviews

not great, not bad, but just above average

[karas006 · 6/10 · 13 March 2007]

You can't give this movie a 10, you just can't. Just like you can't give it a zero or a one or two. A lot of people get on here and let their emotions take over and end up giving too good reviews or i hate this movie reviews. This movie had the potential to be great but some weak performances and a rushed end makes it fall in the mediocrity of many Mexican movies. A i won't even criticize the end but i thought it was pathetic. Its the classic tale of Mexicans that haven't grown up and live in the amazing (right...) city of Mexico city. I am sick of Mexico city and movies. Why not go somewhere else? Guadalajara is pretty nice, Monterrey is better, Juarez is just as violent. But as i was saying. Is this movie worth your time? Yes. Will it blow you away? no, look somewhere else to be blown away. This movie tries to be serious without getting serious. And that's what makes it interesting and quite funny at times.

Awesome movie!

[deenoa · 10/10 · 2 October 2006]

This is one of those movies worth watching, the message its clear. It's one of those movies where you keep laughing due to the realistic situations (well, funny and realistic). the characters are like any of us, they're human: they cry, they laugh, they feel like any of us. You feel the characters as long know friends, understanding their problems.

Watching Side Effects for the second time is like watching the Sixth Sense again; you realize that everything, even the smallest detail since its beginning, bring side effects all along.

The movie is fresh, smartly told, well directed, and its worth the money you pay. I'm actually waiting the DVD, this is one of those movies you must have.

Really, if you have the opportunity, go and watch it, you wont regret it.

Pretentious, bland and manipulating

[tzankwanito · 5/10 · 20 February 2014]

While entertaining for a rainy day on your couch filling yourself with popcorn and (diet?) coke, the film falls flat and the story lacks congruency (and sometimes coherence). Some of the performances are quite overacted, like Patricia Llaca's (Adan's "object of affection", constantly cheated by him). The plot is a mixture of a simple life of nearly middle aged people who behave like adolescents, and a sort of failing poetic philosophical tale. The only "decent" intimate scene between Marina and Ignacio gets disappointing due to the hysteria that interrupts it with a non-sense reaction of her. Most of the language is purposely vulgar but it makes most of the scenes monotonous, and Adan's inserted scenes reflecting the demons that keep him trapped into cravings for alcohol and drugs tend to be repetitive, and to me, they also pretend to emulate Stanley Kubrick's style, trying to give a surrealistic perception of reality. Being a Mexican, I believe the type of character's reaction towards their current circumstances is exaggerated by far. I think the film tries to reflect a neurotic part of our society when reaching the thirties (mainly of those who live in big cities like Mexico), but it just gets halfway with not much essence to admire. Watch it at your own risk.

the fairy tale called life

[loredanaghidarcea · 9/10 · 11 July 2007]

I was very impressed by this movie. I decided to see it because someone had labeled this as a romantic comedy ... It's not ... it's something else ... It's a voyage you take into real life with four very strange yet familiar characters ... They are quite well written, with their own obsessions so you get the feeling that you have met people like them before. None of them are at the point they thought they would be by the time the movie starts which makes them turn back to the moment they felt it all started. I'm not going to explain the entire plot because it's not the most important thing about the movie or the reason you will enjoy it. It's the way it makes you feel, the way it makes you think about your own life. In my opinion it's worth seeing . It's romantic, crazy and poetic all at the same time, just like life ...

Why make a film?

[susanocanito · 1/10 · 29 October 2006]

Why make a film is you don't have anything to say. Films are hard to make I guess so why make a movie about a lot of stupid moments if they are badly done and badly acted, i really disliked this movie is really bad my girlfriend took me to see it and I saw it just because i was going to be with her but this movie suck big time its really the worst thing that has happened to me somebody put a grain in the directors head and in the audience.

I don't care if it is Mexican an i am supposed to support what the country makes, i had an argument with my girlfriend saying that this film is the scum of the country, because we are not like that its just trying to brain wash people. we are not that stupid.

Woth watching my friend

[b_willmx · 10/10 · 2 September 2006]

I'm 24 and at the end of the movie I realize that I don't want to spend the rest of this time whit only one girl.

This movie is about four thirty-years-old ex school partners that are reunited for the high school generation party. The movie has everything that should matter:

1.- Good story 2.- Good interpretations 3.- Good look 4.- Good Sex scenes, and 5.- Good score (music I mean)

I'm not lying when i say that this movie is worth watching, it is one of the best movies I saw since "Sexo Pudor y Lágrimas" "Sex, sweat and tears". Probably I wasn't too excited of see Tony Dalton in this one but is acting was OK. And dude, the speech at the end... it'll catch you unarmed and will knock you up. It is impossible to escape for those truths.

Better watching with a friend in the plan of "I'm just your friend, but I know someday somehow You'll be mine"

So, that's all. Enjoy it!

Hard to believe

[adivinando · 1/10 · 7 October 2007]

It is very difficult to understand why such a bad script got greenlighted. I guess this film is intended to be a "coming of age" comedy. Well, it is not. The characters are almost nameless. A recovering alcoholic-drug addict arquitect in his 30's is bests friends with a jobless woman who complains all the time about being dumped by a guy who once saved her life because he loved her (though later he confesses he did not); an aspiring actress who always fails at her cast appearances because she always has accidents because of the same reason (the architect's manners) and always ends up performing as a bee in a kid's show but... guess what... at the end, she decides to be a flight attendant and her mom gets her an interview with an airline executive who is willing to under-see her small size and her age... but guess what again... just as she was being admitted as a flight attendant, the police bursts in and arrests her for being a drug dealer, because she had a friend in her bee-entertaining-activities that put an heroin dosis in her room to ease her pains... but guess what again... the architect is a womanizer but deep inside he is just a tender guy waiting for his long time love to finally accept him... and guess again... the first gut, the one who saves the heroin, had a girlfriend who was smashed by the same car that smashes his new found love, at the same street, with the same car... really!!! I'm not kiddin'!!! And that's it. All of the above became into a boring, tedious, senseless motion picture.

The worst part: this thing made it's way to the theaters. And was co-produced by Warner bros. The first time a US major studio invests in a local production.

Incredible film

[edwardborges · 10/10 · 20 September 2006]

This film is destined to become a classic of the new golden age of Mexican Cinema. It made me laugh out loud and it made me cry. Writer-director Issa Lopez is clearly the love child that Elaine May, Nora Ephron, Woody Allen, Pedro Almodovar, and Nancy Meyer conceived while vacationing together in Mexico.

She learned all she could from this noble parentage, and then developed an original voice that directly reflects the dreams and obstacles of 20-somethings living today -- in Mexico, or anywhere in the world.

Her characters are funny, sexy, and endearing and instantly win you over as they figure out who they are and what they are doing with their lives.

I can't wait to see Lopez' next film.

Bright Future for Mexican Cinema

[imdb-professional · 10/10 · 4 October 2006]

After seeing Efectos Secundarios, I realize that Issa Lopez is genuinely a well-read, versatile, sharp director and is ready to make her mark as a pioneer of Mexican and hopefully American cinema. Where will all this talent lead her next? It's nice to see a film that pulls from many different philosophies, while having a commercial, yet universal sensibility as well as one native to the environment of Mexico City. Another thing that this film has is an eclectic music score, and an exceptionally modern look for being produced entirely in Mexico. The audience I saw this film with was on the floor in laughter most of the time. A definite recommend.

Kind of hits the target

[danixdefcon5 · 10/10 · 30 September 2006]

Well, maybe it is because I am actually near the intended target age group (those nearing 30, and I'm 25). Its got an interesting philosophy, it actually fits better than other recent Mexican movies, which seem to have matured from the god-awful "charro" movies from the 50's or the "Lola la Trailera" low-budget action flicks from the 70's and 80's.

It is mostly a comedy about 4 (well, 4 main, and some secondary characters) that re-unite 12 years later in a high-school reunion. They're about to hit 30, and well the movie tackles on some of the issues related to hitting 30, specially with some of them not having their teenager dreams fulfilled.

During the whole film, and in the closing dialogue, this movie also shows one thing: everything we do has Side Effects, which might be good or bad.

great Mexican film

[jrodarterobles · 10/10 · 2 February 2008]

I had been wanting to see this movie for the longest time, but it was not available where I live. So, I had to order this online, and I could hardly wait to see it when I got it. Believe me, this movie is worth every penny I paid for it.

This movie is about four people that went to the same school and are about to turn 30 years old. So, they are all going through nostalgic moments at this point. They're asking themselves whether they have fulfilled their life goals or not.

All the acting was great, the characters really grow on you as the story develops. There are moments where you laugh hysterically, and there are those moments that make you feel sad for them.

This movie is a comedy-drama that reminded me a lot of American Beauty. The score is beautiful, and the movie came with the sound-track, so this movie will be one of my favorites in my collection. Mexico has come up with some awesome movies lately. I expect great things for Issa López (the director),as well as all the actors: Marina DE Tavira, Alejandra Gollas, Arturo Barba and Pedro Izquierdo.

I would highly recommend this movie to anyone!

Efectos Secundarios...Life does have consequences

[daniela_daria · 10/10 · 14 May 2007]

One of my friends recommended me to go watch this movie, she had already seen it three times and thought it was fantastic; I thought that it would probably be a good comedy. It was so much more than that.

This is a smartly told story about turning 30... and realizing that not all of your dreams come true; that living here, in Mexico City has consequences, but it's also about finding yourself, taking risks, getting loose, and mostly knowing that you are not alone when it comes to feeling lost.

The directions in this film is superb, Issa Lopez is really growing as a filmmaker and as a writer, the character development is completely realistic, the cinematography is beautiful. The actors are great, and the way that comedy is developed is just great.

If you are looking for a film that has drama, smart comedy, dark irony, a fantastic soundtrack and the truth about life, you should totally watch Efectos Secundarios. It will be worth your money.

Efectos Secundarios... only the best!

[rebelgirl_star · 10/10 · 10 April 2007]

Efectos Secundarios is the best movie I have seen ever, I have to say that I really admire the cast and the director -Issa López-, all the team to create this movie is wonderful. This film is a renovation, nothing is similar to this project, this is a chance to show great actors, the talent of new directors, the success of a really good work, what's behind all this work? And the results… an awesome movie!

At my age, I am proud of the Mexican Cinema, and with the work of Issa López and all this great cast I think we can search for better opportunities for Mexico in the world.

If we go like this Mexico can go to the Oscars.

I have no words to explain how much this movie taught me, I consider myself as a huge admirer.

excellent movie

[paulina_ildar · 10/10 · 16 April 2007]

this is one of the greatest, movies I ever seen, I'm really good at bing a person how always talks what thinks, and i love films so it is a really good convination for a film criticizer, and i have to tell it is one of the best movie is ever saw because this drama film contains: comedy, tragedy and romance, and it is very difficult writing this three drama characters in just one film, or play. Issa is a really great writer no only because this film that makes me laugh a lot, because she is a grate writer, person and leader. its is a very respectful woman. but the point is that this movie is so very funny I'm in love with the movie, it is really really good. and the actor and actress are really good at preforming as it is Marina De Tavira, Alejandra Gollás, Arturo Barba y Pedro Izquierdo. Thank God for Issa.