Pagafantas

An enjoyable comedy with a thin plot by young Spanish director Borja Cobeaga.

This is the story of Chema -played by Gorka Otxoa-, a looser nice guy, the sort of guy that women find adorable as a friend but never as a boyfriend, i.e. a "pagafantas"- who falls for the sweet, independent and illegal Argentinean Claudia -played by Sabrina Garciarena- who thinks he's... her best friend.

The story is fresh and funny, the characters likable, the premise and storyline promising. The linking sections about the mating characteristics of the human species are truly entertaining and witty, and some of the situations in which the characters are placed are funny. The two leading actors are OK in their respective roles, especially Garciarena. However, I found much more interesting to watch the supporting actors: Oscar Ladoire as Uncle Jaime, Kiti Manver as Chema's mother Gloria, and Julian Lopez as Chema's best friend.

To me, the main problem with the film is that the script gets stuck half way, due to the lack of ideas regarding where to take the story of the leading couple, and the viewer feels that the movie has ended before it does. In fact, the end of the movie is a reflection of the inability of the scriptwriters to put closure to the same. I thought that the movie would have made a terrific short-film, not a full-length one. I found the role of Mrs Begona -played by an uninspired Maria Asquerino- completely superfluous, as she's not funny nor has any purpose in the story.

The movie is not good enough but it has glimpses of talent and savoir-faire, proof of Cobeaga's promising future.

Set in Bilbao, it is about long time loser in love Chema who is always placed firmly in the friendzone - that is until he meets up with Argentinian, Claudia, he thinks he is in with a chance as Claudia is a loveable extrovert who is giving off the wrong signals to Chema who finds out once again he is placed in the friendzone by her also, but it is far too late as Chema has fallen in love.

He sees how his future might pan out when he sees how his own mum treats 'tio' Jaime - who employs Chema in his photo developing shop as a favour to his mum who he has been in secretly in love with for many years - not that anything tio Jaime does has any bearing on how Chema's mum feels about him, it's all in vain.

I usually get lost with comedies from Spain but this is really good, better than a 6/10 on here, that's for sure. It's well acted and the comedy is at a good, even pace. I enjoyed it for what's it's worth.

This diverting film is full of humor , entertainment , enjoyable scenes , good feeling and being amusingly paced . The picture is nicely developed , it is well realized , including hilarious elements here and there . This is a special Spanish comedy from the 2009s with the usual ingredients such as wild humor topped with a little bit of original touches here and there and the tone of the film is light-hearted . Witty and agreeable screenplay from Borja Cobeaga , deemed to be a new king of Spanish comedy . This funny film deals with Chema (Gorka Otxoa) , a good-tempered young who falls for Claudia (Sabrina Garciarena) , the woman of his dreams , the one he's been waiting for . For her , there have always been two kinds of guys: the ones you desire and the ones who buy you drinks . Meanwhile , Chema seeks advise from his best friend Rubén (Julián López) but things go wrong . Soon after , 'Tío' Jaime (Óscar Ladoire) also advises him about this romance , but he is madly in love with his mommy Gloria (Kiti Mánver) who is caring for Señora Begoña (María Asquerino who replaced Marivi Bilbao , she had healthy issues and can't shoot) .

It is an extremely funny film with entertaining events , giggles , emotion , craziness , binge , twists and intimate love stories . This disconcerting film packs amusement , comical as well as absurd situations , tongue-in-cheek , social critique , surrealist comedy , adding conventional pitfalls and many other things . Close comedy well written by Borja Cobeaga and Diego San José , regarding crazy roles , mayhem , antics , frolics , and a moving romances ; including enjoyable interpretations with outcast roles were pretty well developed . The plot is plain and simple as Chema falls really in love with Claudia and is patiently waiting for her to realize it and she actually wants him to buy her a drink and stay in the friend zone . The best parts of the movie result to be the documentary interludes in which are shown animal behaviours similarly to human beings , such as ¨La Cobra¨ , ¨Koala¨ and Lemur¨ . It's a charming , moving film , perfectly acted and concerning the narration about the relationship among friends , bride , lover , relatives and friends . On the surface , ¨Pagafantas¨ doesn't get much wrong , it looks okay , the comedy misunderstandings pile up in a reasonably amusing fashion and the performance is acceptable .

This amusing film was professionally written/produced directed by Borja Gobeaga . Basque writer-director Borja Cobeaga is having himself quite good years , first out of the gate he served as a co-writer on Spanish Affair , a little comedy that became the top grossing Spanish film of all time on its 2014 release . Borja is a director and writer, he was born in 1977 in Donostia-San Sebastián , Guipúzcoa , País Vasco, where usually shoots his movies . He a good filmmaker expert on comedies as he has proved writing several amusing flicks . Being known for Pagafantas (2009), Éramos Pocos (2005) and Negociador (2014) that was exhibited in 62nd San Sebastian Festival for its Zabaltegi section and it Won Irizar Award Best Basque Film to Borja Cobeaga and Won Turia Award Best Actor , Ramón Barea . Being especially known for ¨8 Apellidos Vascos¨ considered to be the biggest box office in Spanish cinema and he subsequently wrote ¨8 Apellidos Vascos 2¨ .

The trouble with this comedy is that though the original situation is very recognizable and even common, the film development lead it to an incredible point with too much incredible situations. Someone can say that it is because it is a comedy but i don't agree with that. It could be a much better comedy if it were more credible. Someone also can say that is a dark comedy with its little portion of Spanish sperpento. OK, its a dark comedy, thats its best worth. But i insist: it could be better if that guy wasn't so incredibly stupid and all the plot was more like things are in real life. As someone said, the relation between Claudia and the guy is not enough well described. Besides, many subplots and details remain in a halfway point and that doesn't helps Anyway, though it could be better, its a very watchable film