Predictable local romantic comedy Permitidos tackles proven formula and falls flat
Points: 5
Camila (Lali Espósito) and Mateo (Martín Piroyansky) have been a happy couple for many years. They live together and enjoy every minute of it. In fact, they seem to have been made for each other.
One night, while having dinner with another couple, they talk about their fantasies, about affairs they would like to have. You know, the so-called “allowance” or “free-passes”: famous actors, actresses, gorgeous models, and so on, that a regular person could fulfil their fantasy with, if given the chance, without counting it as cheating. After all, it would be just one exception with someone who’s nearly impossible to hook up with.
That is until Mateo accidentally runs into his ideal woman, Zoe del Rio, a famous and beautiful model. What happens is that a thief tries to snatch her bag, and Mateo prevents the robbery and gives Zoe her bag back. Believe or not, Zoe is instantly drawn to Mateo, so they exchange phone numbers and agree to meet later on — without Camila knowing, of course. That triggers an unfortunate chain of events and, because of infidelity, love will be at stake.
Such is the stuff that the latest film by Ariel Winograd (Mi primera boda, Vino para robar, Sin hijos) is made of. Structurally speaking, his new romantic comedy is well narrated to a certain point.
Then again, it’s not that difficult to tackle an already known and proven formula. So the challenge is in getting it right. Which Permitidos doesn’t do because it has its good share of flaws.
We’re talking about a considerable lack of originality in character design, a high degree of implausibility on many levels, uninspired gags that go for easy laughs, rehearsed performances that never come fully alive, and an overall sense of predictability — and not in a good way.
It’s generic stuff, and as such it’s meant to follow established conventions, but they have to be very well executed as to achieve a good effect.
Even Piroyanski, who’s quite a resourceful actor, is often little credible — though he has some good moments as well.
Espósito is perhaps more convincing, but only from time from time too. As for the chemistry between them, there’s no problem to be found there.
The problem is that, as the film unfolds, most of the situations and vicissitudes the characters undergo get more and more farfetched, even for the film’s own logic. Let alone a conservative, somewhat moralizing attitude toward infidelity, but maybe that’s not to be taken too seriously.
As for the cinematography and the editing, they are merely correct, whereas the bland musical score is frankly off-putting. Permitidos is mainstream fare and so you shouldn’t expect it to be an innovative auteur work. But even mainstream fare does get a lot better than this.
Production notes
Permitidos (Argentina, 2016). Directed by Ariel Winograd. Written by Julián Loyola and Gabriel Korenfield. With Lali Espósito, Martin Piroyansky, Liz Solari, Benjamín Vicuña. Cinematography: Félxi “Chango” Monti. Running time: 107 minutes.
@pablsuarez
