Casi divas (2008) User Reviews

And the winner is.....

[jotix100 · 7/10 · 23 June 2009]

Eva, a sexy star of one of Mexico's most popular "telenovelas", is, in reality, a "primadonna". She thinks nothing of having temper tantrums and walk out of a set if things don't go her way. To make matters worse, she is nearing that certain age as her looks are starting to fade. Well, she is in for the biggest surprise of her life. Alejandro, the producer of the successful soap opera, has decided to launch a search for an unknown talent that will play the new version of the series. Never underestimate a woman who feels betrayed!

This light comedy, conceived and directed by Issa Lopez, is a fun film to watch. The film is just a spoof about those bigger than life soaps that are so popular in the country, as well as in the rest of the world. The Mexican television industry has made this form of entertainment a great escape for people that love to follow the complexities of lives so much different from theirs. Director Lopez injects a bit of criticism in the way each of the principals have had to deal with real problems in a society that subtly discriminate them in favor of the more European looking women that are the stars of those 'telenovelas'.

Patricia LLaca and Julio Bracho play Eva and Alejandro, the star, and the creator of the famous soap opera. Maya Zapata is Francisca, the girl from rural Oaxaca who gets to the finals, but finds out she can't live a life that is not real. Daniela Schmidt is Yesenia, a girl with a big secret. Diana Garcia plays Catalina, a young woman from the border town where who wants justice for the many victims that have died attempting to cross the border. Finally, Ana Layeska, is seen as Ximena, a spoiled brat that wants to have it her way.

The film is entertaining and don't expect nothing more than to be amused for its duration thanks to Issa Lopez and everyone involved in the production.

Mexican satire is a cover for serious subjects

[blanche-2 · 7/10 · 30 October 2017]

What looks like a lighthearted comedy winds up giving strong messages in "Casi Divas," a 2008 film.

The story concerns a "Scarlett O'Hara" type nationwide search for a telenovela character for a feature film. She's played on TV by a temperamental diva Eva (Patricia Llaca) who is furious she's not doing the movie, but the film will harken back to the character's more ingenue and virginal days...Eva's been playing the role for a while now.

Out of a massive campaign - based on a true story of a similar casting call where 100,000 Mexican women turned up - four become finalists. One, a blond, Ximena (Ana Layeska) comes from a wealthy family, will do anything for the role; Francisca (Maya Zapata) is from Oaxaca, and she is discriminated against because she is Indian; Catalania (Diana Garcia) is from Juarez, where young women disappear and are turned out as prostitutes. Finally, Yesinia (Daniela Schmidt) plays a woman with a secret.

After all the auditions and Miss America type questions, Eva's attempts at seducing the creator of the show, Ximena jumping Alejandro (Julio Bracho) in his vehicle, the film turns quite serious. Each of these young women finds out who they are and what they want through the process. It's quite moving.

I can't dissect this film the way true Mexicans have - these women are supposedly all stereotypes, the town of Juarez is misrepresented as a vast wasteland, etc., but the film does show up some of Mexico's problems under the guise of comedy.

One problem I had was that, to me, Yesinia was completely wrong for the role, yet she is in the finals. Her role is important, but perhaps it could have been cast better so she fit in. Nevertheless, the cast does a fine job.

What did I just watch?

[geita-34313 · 1/10 · 20 November 2019]

This was just bad. A complete waste of time. Do not watch this junk. The movie is not very pleasant for the eye as well. I DO NOT RECOMMEND

Why?

[gbx06 · 2/10 · 20 April 2008]

I am not an expert on film and much less I'm the most qualified person to make a comment about a film, then I'm exactly going to write, with less offensive words, what I think about the worst Mexican film of all time, and not because we have a lot of art films but actually Issa Lopez offends any Mexican with his "Casi Divas" To begin the movie is full of clichés and stereotypes that only the people of Mexico City, I want to clarify that not most, but people with little culture believed on people of other states. So Issa ridicules the majority of women and paints as many people abroad think that Mexico is, a place of marginalized, uneducated, naive and corrupt and useless mentally. And is that all the characters in the film are pseudo-animals with hollow head and that is what she wants to say about their Mexican roots. Yes, this is the vision of an "artist".

I thank really not have paid to see this film and give me sad to recognize that in my country we continue to fund films that have a lack of creativity and intelligence, that unscrupulous people try to sell us a "comedy" moralists with dyes that are ridiculous, as his course tragedy of the dead women of Juarez or Yesenia, and at the end people leave saying "this is good film." So we still do not progress in many ways.

In short, Casi Divas has dismal performances, script and all the technical resources that want to use during the film. I wish I could say that this is an isolated case but I am sure that will be repeated. The only thing left to ask is Why Issa tearing the Mexican film even more, do not simply that it were degraded for many years? Why Issa? Why?

I Just want to add something: Issa López = René Cardona Jr. Think about it.

A satire of what we know as Mexican

[charlie_c2050 · 9/10 · 1 May 2008]

Im from Ciudad Juarez, the place where Catalina lives (where women are killed O_o).

It is true that all the characters are in the stereotype of each place, Guadalajara, Oaxaca, Ciudad Juarez, Nezahualcóyotl. But, in fact, almost everything in the movie is stereotyped: Clothes, what happens in the TV studios, our government, and lots more.

The accent of the girl from Juarez was TOTALLY FALSE. I was thinking "Who the H*ll in Juarez speaks like that???". It is also fun to see that all the city is transformed into a complete desert, without any building O_o. There are A LOT of places that represents wonderfully the city, and Issa López used some scrubs, desert, sand and cactus instead (I haven't seen a real cactus in the city... oh! I did! there was one of 3" tall in an office)

The movie goes directly to all the Mexican discriminated minorities: homosexuals, natives, poor, etcetera. If we try to see the movie as the identical copy of the reality, it will surely fail.

BUT, I as a Mexican had a lot of fun watching at this movie. This is because, even though it is stereotyped, we can recognize some national flaws. We need to recognize that not all the movies have to be educational. This is, (even if we like or not) a way Mexicans can laugh a little about their own problems, in which a catharsis can be done, and we can relief all our stressed society

Issa Lopez = the best Mexican film maker

[gabrielito_02 · 10/10 · 30 April 2008]

Hello! First, let me say that thanks to Issa Lopez, Warner Brothers Pictures performed its first production in Mexico when they bought "Efectos Secundarios". And I think that is something that we must recognize all Mexicans.

Replying the previous comment, I think it is extremely illogical that Issa Lopez, has offended the Mexicans when she made "Casi Divas" and even more so with the fact that she is a woman and Mexican. Therefore, I don't understand the aim from comments like...

"So Issa ridicules the majority of women and paints as many people abroad think that Mexico is, a place of marginalized, uneducated, naive and corrupt and useless mentally." The film industry in our country is in progress, the Mexican film has had great successes and recognition thanks to people like Issa Lopez, who has put the name of Mexico in the film industry.

Casi Divas, it's a comedy that shows us a very big reality. Yes, it is a reality. It's a movie, and like all movies, can't be displayed exactly as things are, you have to bring a touch of humor, drama, surprise,etc. that otherwise, would be somewhat boring. And I should mention that this is the second production in Mexico at Columbia Pictures, another merit for Issa Lopez, who also participated in "Niñas Mal", which was the first production at Columbia Pictures in our country.

Beyond being a comedy, Casi Divas gives us a glance or a reminder of what happens in Cd. Juarez with the endless killings of women, discrimination or living Indians of different ethnicities in our country, and why not, also the rejection suffered by people with different preferences or changes in their sexuality, corruption of the rich and powerful. Perhaps it isn't something that we can feel proud, but it's a reality that we live and we can see reflected in a film that has been wrote years ago and now it's a dream come true from Issa Lopez.

To me, this film is excellent and is not for ridicule anyone, and we didn't see us like marginalized, uneducated, naive, corrupt and useless mentally. As previously mentioned.

Issa Lopez Thank you for this work. We hope more and more success with your future projects.

You see and you get it .... Issa Lopez = the best Mexican film maker CONGRATULATIONS

Calling all sheltered Americans (like me)... See this movie!!

[rooprect · 8/10 · 20 November 2011]

I thought long & hard to come up with a word that describes how I felt after seeing this film. That word, believe it or not, is "enriched".

Packaged as a comedy about the silliness of stardom, CASI DIVAS is actually a brilliant social satire that opened my eyes to the amazing, diverse culture south of the border, something that we Americans know so little about. The film focuses on four characters from different regions of Mexico vying for national fame, each having her own unique driving motivation. We get one rich girl, one farmer girl, one street-smart urbanite, and one oppressed worker girl. Each of the four characters is apparently an extreme stereotype of a region, and this may border on offensive if you happen to be from one of those areas, but isn't that what a social satire is supposed to do?

The motivations of each of the girls are what make the film so interesting. It shows us that the different cultures within Mexico have immensely different lifestyles, desires and dreams. What's great is that the film doesn't attempt to prioritize one over the other but rather shows us how immeasurable they are against one another. Is one girl's desire to escape the factory any less valid than the rich girl's desire to be as thin and glamorous as her social class dictates? Is the farmer girl's desire to experience life any less valid than the urbanite's desire to show the world she can overcome city prejudices? Each in her own turn, the characters win you over and make you realize how conflicting interests can manage to live together, whether in Mexico or in your own neighbourhood.

The film itself is presented as a pseudo-mockumentary. I say 'pseudo' because some scenes have the characters talking to the camera while other scenes are traditionally shot from an omniscient perspective. It's unusual but very effective. I think the scifi DISTRICT 9 (another brilliant social satire) took the same approach. Being that this is a comedy, it instantly made me think of the Christopher Guest mockumentaries (BEST IN SHOW, WAITING FOR GUFFMAN, MIGHTY WIND, etc), and I think if you like those films you'll like this too.

Many scenes had me laughing out loud, especially the slapstick scenes which were done just right (physical comedy is an art form unto itself). But what I loved was the way the movie avoided the predictable cat-fighting between contestants. Instead, most of the conflict came from family members, jilted lovers and shady peripheral characters. This made it unpredictable and entertaining up to the very end.

One other thing I wanted to mention is, even though this is a satire, it doesn't descend to sarcasm or cynicism. This gives the whole film a very upbeat & cute presentation, despite its pointed message. It's refreshing to see that filmmakers are still capable of tackling heavy issues while remaining light-hearted.

On top of it all, it packed some really powerful human moments that did not seem contrived at all. In fact, you realize that these human moments are what the movie is all about. I highly recommend this movie because it covers all the bases. Comedy, drama, social commentary, and some great lookin babes to boot.

By the way, you can currently find this DVD for $2 in the bargain bin at your local Blockbuster. If you pick up a copy, you will not regret your purchase!

Entertaining Look at Contemporary Mexican Life

[dorada_19 · 10/10 · 8 March 2013]

I checked out this DVD at the library. I was expecting it to be a ditzy comedy about young debutantes with a lust for fame. While this may be somewhat true, Issa Lopez depicted the characters as human beings. The movie revolve around 4 young women and the Diva, Eva Gallardo. The women's paths cross when they audition for a reprise of "Eva Enamorada".

There is Yesenia, an intersex woman who may be bisexual (depending on one's interpretation). She is a hairdresser in a lower class community in Mexico city. She deals with a lot of gender discrimination. Her family is loving and supportive, though a bit chaotic (in a funny way). She wants to transcend her mundane life as a famous actress.

Ximena Lizarraga is a rich girl from Guadalajara. She is very insecure about her body because she was a chubby child. Her childhood love interest ridiculed her. She subjected herself to 4 surgeries and rigorous diets in order to have a model figure. She wants the leading role in order to vindicate herself and exact revenge on those who called her 'foca' (seal in Spanish).

Catalina is a maquiladora worker from Juarez. Initially her biggest motivation to be the next "Eva Enamorada" is for safety reasons. Her life in Chihuahua is hell, and she unsuccessfully crossed the U.S.-Mexico border. A few of her friends have disappeared. The local thug, Satan, is an organized criminal capable of anything.

Francisca is an indigenous woman from Oaxaca. She is a rural woman with strong family values. Frank is proud of her heritage and has strong convictions about Mexico's treatment of its Native Indians. She is the only literate person in the village. She travels to the audition to make her family proud and hopefully shatter negative attitudes about dark skinned people. She learn a lot about herself as a woman during the auditioning process.

Eva Gallardo is a 30ish soap opera diva who is unapologetic about throwing tantrums on set when things do not go her way. She has a dark past that always haunts her, and makes her insecure. She has a love-hate relationship with Alejandro, the producer of Eva Enamorada. They often engage in mudslinging; and in a strange way that is the way that they show love for each other. She does anything to knock out potential competition.

It is true that these characters are stereotypes, but all comedies are based on stereotypes. This way, everybody gets it and can laugh at each others differences. The movie strikes a delicate balance between a drama and a comedy (a dramedy). I enjoyed the way that the movie did not have a one size fits all happy ending. One or two characters had a 'happy ending' and the rest had the Cinderella experience (think about what happened at 12 midnight).

In our fame obsessed society one could take this as a commentary on celebrity. Even though we all know that an actor's job is to be on TV, it is easy to sometimes believe the hype that one is bombarded with. Their bodies are imperfect; and they have blemished backgrounds. They are just like us, only with an army of PR experts, makeup artists, fashion and computer designers (i.e. Photoshop) and a little more money.