Miracles From Heaven was released on March 16, 2016, in some theaters, Amazon, and Redbox. The film was produced by Patricia Riggen, written by Christy Beam, and adapted by Randy Brown. The actors in the film are Eugenio Derbez as Dr. Nurko, Jennifer Garner as Christy Beam, and Kylie Rogers as Ana Beam. The film is a drama about a little girl who is terribly ill and miraculously gets cured. After the car accident, Christy Beam (mother) finds out that Ana Beam (daughter) is not ill anymore; for some reason that doctors or science cannot explain, Ana is no longer ill. Ana is perfectly healthy.

I enjoyed the film because it had a happy ending.  For the first time, a Mexican actor had the honor to play a role in a drama film as a doctor, and not a criminal. The story has a happy ending and not the typical sad ending that most drama films have. The film ended with the child being cured of a terrible illness that was very painful and did not have a cure according to doctors. One can interpret the ending in many different ways. My interpretation is that one must never lose hope and faith. Even when one does not find a solution, or think there is no solution, one must believe God has a plan for us, and we must trust in God.  Many times that I have watched movies, in which most of the actors are white, and a person of color is part of the cast, \the person of color is the criminal or the villain. I was amazed that for the first time in my history of viewing films, a Mexican was portrayed as a doctor. Not a doctor, who malpractice steals, or extortionate patients, but a doctor who is caring, loving, and understanding. Eugenio Derbez as Dr. Nurko role was essential to the film because he is a doctor that treats Kylie Rogers, an excellent physician, and reveals the good news.  He is the top pediatric gastroenterologist in Boston. Dr. Samuel Nurko is a very busy doctor, and it takes some time before he can set an appointment to meet with Ana and her mother.

Most of the films viewed in the class involve criminals, were violent and portrayed Latinos in a negative manner. This film, on the contrary, portrays Latinos as caring, loving, and understanding like in the film, Real Women Have Curves. We need more films in English that portray Latinos as part of the American society, playing a functional and essential component. As one of the minority groups, the number of Latinos has increased, and we cannot deny nor ignore that we are part of the American society.

Overall, I enjoyed the film, the message it portrayed, how it depicted Latinos and the happy ending.  We need more films that illustrate, with positive messages, regardless of race we can all work together, help one another, and make a difference. Hate, stereotypes, and racism need to be forgotten to be able to live and make the world a better place. Currently, the world needs humanity to believe, and I have faith and hope in a better world.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4257926/

Instructions Not Included is a comedy and drama film that was aired on September 6, 2013, and directed by Eugenio Derbez. The actors who played in this movie were Valentin (Eugenio Derbez), the girl Maggie (Loreto Peralta), and Maggie’s mother, Julie (Jessica Lindsey). The original version was in Spanish No Se Aceptan Devoluciones then translated in English to Instructions Not Included. Both versions are easy to understand and follow, compared to other versions of translations. Usually, the translations do not make sense or cause emotional reactions to viewers.

Eugenio Derbez originates from Mexico City, Mexico. He is an actor, director, writer, and producer. He earned two degrees in Mexico. One degree in Film Directing from the Mexican Institute of Cinematography and Theater and the second in Acting from Televisa Acting School. Currently, he is furthering his education in Los Angeles, California, taking classes to become a better actor, director, writer, and producer. He is known in Mexico and Los Angeles for his comedy and characters. He created and produced various successful television series in Mexico, such as XHDerbez, Vecinos, and La Familia Pluche.  He received a star on the Walk of Fame recently, and the Latino community was happy that he had been recognized for the impressive work he has done over the years. He not only moved to Los Angeles to further his education, but to become a well-known actor, producer, writer, and director. He has participated in several films such as Under the Same Moon (2007), The Book of Life (2014), Miracles from Heaven (2016), Girl in Progress (2012), Beverly Hills Chihuahua (2008), and children’s movies that have been translated into Spanish like Shrek, Shrek 2, and Mulan. If you will like to learn more about Eugenio Derbez, here is the link to his biography http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0220240/, an article about his crossover to Hollywood by Fox News http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/entertainment/2013/10/25/eugenio-derbez-shows-hollywood-what-latinos-want-at-box-office/, and a list of things people did not know about him http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/27/eugenio-derbez-facts_n_4349662.html.

The film is about a young man who is promiscuous, irresponsible and parties a lot. This is a stereotype that is very common in the Latino community. Unfortunately, in our community, these are characteristics of men, and they are acceptable as part of Machismo. These characteristics are not viewed well among woman. His life changed, when one of his many, one night stands knocked his door and left a baby at his doorsteps. She tells him they had sexual intercourse. As a consequence, she became pregnant and had a baby girl. She then asks for money to pay the taxi driver.  He gives her money, and she hands him the baby. She then walks off to pay the man and never comes back. He did not know what to do with the baby, and he was aware that he was not capable of caring for the child. Another stereotype is that men are not capable of caring for children regardless if they are their own. The women must always care for the children, and the men must provide; again Machismo. He then remembered the birth mother lived in the United States of America, and he decided to immigrate with the baby. He immigrated to Los Angeles, California. The film portrayed crossing the border as something that was not difficult to do. He had trouble putting the money together, took time, and not knowing the language was a barrier. He had a difficult time finding the mother once he arrived and eventually fell in love with the baby. He takes any job to make money to support his daughter.  He faced a difficult journey as a single father.  He raised a girl on his own, in a place where he knew no one. The language was a barrier, and he had to hide like many immigrants today. The film and the actor portrayed the reality of many fathers and mothers that live in the United States today, who work endlessly any job to make a living and support their children. A point that I found interesting was he never intended to stay in the United States of America; he only wanted to return the baby and go back home. I have heard this from many family members who immigrated to this state to make money to support their family and intended to go back to their country of origin which hardly happens. After six years, the mother reappears confesses the child is not his and wants the child back. He fights for the custody of the girl who he thought for six years was his. During the time he was working in Hollywood taking positions as extra in many movies, he became successful and earned well enough to provide for his child. There is a custody dispute throughout the film the child becomes ill and eventually dies.

The story points out Valentin’s struggles of being a single father, being an immigrant, and experiencing the death of his child. Valentin believed he was not capable of caring for the child. Eventually, he learned to be an amazing father. Being a parent is not an easy job. A child completely changes one’s life, and one has to mature and become responsible.  That is what the film illustrated. The film had stereotypes of machismo: Valentin was promiscuous, irresponsible, and immature. He also felt he was not capable of caring for a child. Since he was a man, it was acceptable for him to behave this way, and no one looked at him as being wrong or judged him. But the film then destroyed this stereotype when he became a loving, caring, and responsible father. He cared for the child for six years and then engaged in a committed relationship. This film is an example that Latino men can be loving, caring, responsible, and passive like in Real Women Have Curves. Another stereotype that was addressed was the one of the immigrants crossing the border.  A stereotype that was illustrated was that it’s not hard crossing the border, and from the stories I have heard that is a myth. I understand the film was not centered on that idea, but it would have been nice to have approached that in a different way. This stereotype reminded me of some of the stereotypes in Speedy Gonzalez and Born in East LA, especially the scenes of Rudy crossing the border where it seemed not so difficult like anyone can do it and survive.  The stereotype that was clarified was that immigrants take the jobs that are available, and no one wants to do. They are not stealing or taking anyone’s job.  Immigrants overcome many barriers, such as the language, law enforcement, and finding a job to have a better lifestyle.

If you like to learn more about Eugenio Derbez, I have posted links above that will take you to his biography and news about him. I have also posted and summarized some of his work below.

One of my favorite characters in XHDerbez is the “El Diablito”. This like many of his work is a comedy show that involves many characters in different settings. This show is available through Amazon, YouTube, and Netflix. Here is the link if you will like to learn more about this show http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0409642/0.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLJLoZOFKHs

Vecinos translates in English to neighbors. The series is a comedy about the neighbors that live in an apartment building and have to learn how to get along because they cannot afford to move out. The series has a diverse group of neighbors like a promiscuous woman, a gay man, punk rocker teenager, preppy teenager, a naughty child, docile husband, evil wife, friendly apartment manager, educated and successful woman, and a business man. Here is the link to learn more about the series http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0469247/.

He played as Ludovico, the father in the family of the show, La Familia Pluche; this is a comedy show based on a dysfunctional family. This was a hit show in Mexico and the United States of America. This show is available on YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon. Here is the link to learn more about the show http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1244672/.