Main Page
Alphabetical Menu
Chronological Menu
The "L" Menu

Ladrón Que Roba a Ladrón (PG-13)





Release Date: August 31st, 2007 by Lionsgate.
The Cast: Fernando Colunga, Miguel Varoni, Julie Gonzalo, Oscar Torre, Gabriel Soto, Saúl Lisazo, Ivonne Montero.
Directed by Joe Menendez.
In Spanish with subtitles.

BASIC PREMISE: Emilio (Varoni) and Alejandro (Colunga) gather a small team to rob Moctezuma Valdez (Lisazo), an ex-thief who works as a TV infomercial guru scamming consumers with ineffective products.

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: Ladron Que Roba Ladron, which translates as A Thief Who Robs a ThiefOcean’s 11 with a lively, diverse ensemble cast, but it actually ends up more like After the Sunset with plenty of witty dialogue albeit a derivative plot. The opening scenes introduce Moctezuma Valdez as a smarmy, wealthy infomercial guru who sells ineffective products like “Water of God” which promises to extend the life of those with terminal illnesses. It turns out that he was once a thief and, in a way, still is one. Soon enough, Emilio and Alejandro, two thieves, hatch a plan to steal millions of dollars from his safe in broad daylight while he hosts a party at his mansion. A few others join the heist to help out with tasks such as constructing a tunnel underneath the mansion and building a secret compartment to hide the stolen money. Out of all the actors, Julie Gonzalo, who somewhat look like Jodie Foster, steals the most scenes as a member of the heist team who seduces every guy she meets—especially a dumb security guard. The plot gradually becomes more complicated and somewhat silly, but at the screenplay by José Angel Henrickson has some witty dialogue and a plot never takes itself too seriously. Director Joe Menendez wisely maintains a fast pace and a running time that clocks a breezy 98 minutes. Audiences familiar with the genre of heist movies will see some of the twists coming from far away, though, and notice many clichés. Nonetheless, the lively ensemble cast helps to invigorate this film with plenty of well-needed energy and charisma to make this fun, mindless entertainment.

SPIRITUAL VALUE: None is required or desired.

INSULT TO YOUR INTELLIGENCE: None, as long as you check your brain at the door.

NUMBER OF TIMES I CHECKED MY WATCH: 1

IN A NUTSHELL: Mindlessly entertaining with a lively ensemble cast despite a somewhat implausible plot full of clichés.

RECOMMENDED WAY TO WATCH: DVD


Main Page
Alphabetical Menu
Chronological Menu
The "L" Menu


______________________________________________________
Avi Offer
The NYC Movie Guru
themovieguru101@yahoo.com
Privacy Policy