User reviews

Surprisingly complex & emotional. Not what you would think after the initial lighthearted beginning. It's not just another "zoom" film but an intimate, heart-wrenching and heartwarming film about connecting with people (esp with people you met online) and how can it change your life in bits and pieces.

SXSW 2021 Greetings again from the darkness. The use of video chats as a plot device might have been a bit more adventurous 18 months ago, but oddly, the pandemic and our familiarity with this type of communication (out of necessity) actually works to strengthen this interesting film. It's the feature film directorial debut of Natalie Morales, who co-wrote the script with Mark Duplass, and the two co-star as the only characters we see on screen.

Ms. Morales plays Carino, a Costa Rica-based Spanish teacher hired by Adam's (Duplass) husband Will (an unseen DeSean Terry). An awkward first lesson - Lesson #1 of 100 in the package - includes Adam's morning routine of hot/cold dips in the pool and spa in the backyard of his luxurious home. Director Morales labels the lessons throughout, and no, we thankfully don't see all 100. After a personal tragedy occurs, the teacher-student dynamic shifts and becomes more therapy before settling into a strange friendship.

Between lessons, Adam and Carino exchange many personal messages, many littered with entirely too many "I'm sorry" lines in an attempt to avoid overstepping boundaries. Adam is forthcoming with his personal feelings, while Carino bounces between trying to stay professional and wanting to bond. It's clear she is hiding details of her personal life, while rarely discouraging Adam from over-sharing. The frequent personal messages reveal more about each character than the scheduled meetings, but combined they work very well.

The charisma of Duplass and especially Morales allow us to care very much about this relationship. They are both charming, and Morales has the most fun in the drunk birthday song scene. She is to be commended for taking such a simple structure and creating an interesting movie that proves people need connection - whether in person, through masks, or via Zoom.

Fresh. I like when I find hidden gems like this. Good writing and acting. Very pleased to see that Natalie Morales directed this. I saw in the comments that some of you are not familiar with the actor who plays Adam, Mark Duplass, I watched him on the tv show called Togetherness, and remembered him very well. Such a funny show and cast. Also, the concept and the vibe of this movie reminded me of the movie 10 000km. Check that one.

The thing I am most upset about is how pure, unadulterated gems like this movie do not get more attention and/or theatrical releases (at least in my continent).

Without going into too much detail, this is a bittersweet comedy based in today's times (the video chat being ubiquitous) about two very different people in different parts of the world coming together.

This movie made me laugh and cry at the same time, and warmed my heart as well. The dialogue is as real as it gets.

I, honestly, do not write reviews for movies like this, but this time, I felt compelled to. Excellent! Waiting for more stuff like this from the two lead actors.

Quite the hard-hitting drama that uses videoconferencing software in an effective way (compared to inane horror movies), and at times felt so human it hurt. Parts of this were like the Duplasses and Natalie Morales (who is so good in this) had an inside track into my psyche/history. And there was a good amount of humor to leaven what very quickly becomes serious subject matter, of importance to this particular moment in time for sure, but also eternally applicable. This is the story of how we get to know, care for, and love each other, regardless of circumstance. I just thought it was beautiful, and I hope it gets recognized in some way.

Not too sure who tagged this a comedy but it is everything but

it is touching and deep about human matters of the highest importance

I do not think it will be a film that will fade from anyone's consciousness in a hurry

Totally watch it but comedy .... no ... not at all ... at any point

Drama ... human drama ... witty at times but disturbing also.

For those who value simplicity, real and not overly frabricated stories, this is it. Simple is the most difficult thing. Keeping it simple, being simple is not easy. However, this movie does it so well, the acting, the writing, and the ambience. So real and beautiful history about friendship.

A very creative and fresh film made by director Natalie Morales. It reveals that digital communication can definitely communicate. Of course, there is a whole new world with its intricacies and weirdnesses when one has to deal with talking through digital devices that eliminate distance and touch at once. But, two connected human beings can make it real even through artificial and unusual ways of speaking. In fact, if they speak from the heart humans can deliver the message whatever means they need to use. Great filming experience to all.

Loved this film! It was so "right" for what we are all going through (lockdowns, remoteness, anxiety etc) . The characters were perfect and it was almost voyeuristic, watching them. You really got to care for their characters, to like their characters and almost felt a part of their special relationship. Bravo!

This film is a true delight. True character development at its best, so close to real life that I now feel like I know these people intimately. Yes there is something voyeuristic about attending their conversations, but after two years of Zoom calls in lockdown I don't think that's gonna be an issue for anyone living today.

It is not a comedy but I found myself laughing hard at times. The writing is stellar, the story unveils like a real-life one, making it completely and ultimately relatable. I completely fell in love with sweet Cariño and her marvelous smiles, felt all the painful moments depicted in that story, ending up with tears of joy and a fast-beating heart. Finally someone in Hollywood understood that cinema is not just about teenagers with super-powers, but about making those 90 minutes an important moment of your life. This movie will stay with me for a long time. Thanks to you Mark and Natalie!

I've been studying Spanish, so I watched this movie reluctantly despite its basis in streaming video (bad memories of Zoom meetings during COVID!). I was richly rewarded: the acting was great, the characters convincing, and it was fun listening to their interactions in Spanish. (Note: don't worry -- there's plenty of English too, and of course subtitles are built in.) Yes, there were some plot holes, and yes, there were some very predictable tropes. But the story was honest, charming, and very watchable.

The good: good actors. Yeah, that's about it...

The bad: this movie was made during covid and similar to other movies made during this period, some writers/directors tried to make a movie with very few people talking to each other via a phone or a computer. Does it create mesmirising cinema? NO.

This is a dud. A gentle, sympathetic dud, but a dud of a movie nonetheless.

Lacking spark, thrill. Lacking surprise. Lacking actor's chemistry BIG TIME.

Let's forget this was made...

The story: a man gets an online spanish lesson for his birthday. He gets intimate with his spanish teacher. He is gay, by the way...

Took a bit to get interesting, but it did. Some will be annoyed that the movie is shot in video call format, but it works for the situation presented. Thought the ending was perfect. Excellent job by the two cast members.

This is the first time I write a review. I think I'd watch more movies if there were like this one.

It's very honest, profound and heartfelt piece about the very things that keep us alive and make us human. I just want to say thanks to people who made it. This film will certainly touch a lot of hearts and make some good things.

It's so refreshing to have a real movie, without superheroes and car chases. The writing is excellent, the actors are great, and this is just a lovely story. We enjoyed it very much and would recommend it to anyone.

This film was very good indeed! At first I did not expect much from this independent vehicle, however the acting, the story and the production were done so well that I genuinely enjoyed the experience.

The filming style was unique which added to the charm of the well written, well-acted dialog. Top that with the many twists and turns and unexpected surprises, and you have an excellent result.

Although there were only two actors in the movie (four were credited but two were only off screen voices for a moment), it worked and it worked well. I later found out the two were also the writers, directors and producers as well, so clearly they were wholly invested in the project. Their dedication showed.

All in all, this film is well worth the watch. I highly recommend it and believe you will enjoy it as much as I did.

My ONLY objection was the unnecessary forced addition of a mixed race gay couple, which did not add anything to the plot and clearly was included just to be politically correct. Fortunately, this was clearly an afterthought, had little influence on the actually story and was quickly introduced and forgotten.

Will buys his husband Adam a package of 100 weekly Spanish lessons, to be delivered by video call by Cariño, a young woman in Costa Rica,. Very quickly, they turn into therapy sessions, then friendship, then maybe love, despite Cariño's attempt to turn the lessons back to the subject of grammar.

This was the Opening Gala at Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ film festival, which often features straight-friendly movies. One artifice was numbering the "lessons", which made the events seem to happen too fast, even with some video messages between lessons. While the writers / actors wants us to focus on their relationship, I was left wondering how Adam was idle "rich", with a large house with pool in Oakland. Also, despite having been previously married to a woman, Adam seems to play the part of a cosseted wife, ignorant of various family affairs.

Finally, I was not keen on the final scene, for which I deducted one star.

Once I see his name associated with a picture I gotta give it a go.

Wonderful movie. Simple movie making at its finest. Hats off to Natalie Morales. A lot of heart on the scrip and great acting.

Natalie Morales shows her writing, directing, and acting chops in this excellent story and film. The emotional growth mirrors the character development and provides a satisfying conclusion.

This little movie proves a small budget and lack of film set can be overcome with story, direction, editing and acting. The chemistry and relationship building was perfectly paced. This movie made me cry as much as Terms of Endearment and Steel Magnolias. Not sure it warrants a repeat view, but nevertheless, I'm glad I watched it.

I watched the movie tonight on the recommendation of a friend. I'm a Mark Duplass fan, and Natalie Morales was a terrific surprise. The story is very human, and if you've ever chatted with a stranger online or taken a language lesson with iTalki or other service, you'll recognize the chemistry.

Definitely worth a watch.

I haven't come across either of these actors before, but I am just blown away by this film, the story, the pacing, the sensitivity and the engagement.

I'm not going to say anything else about it because it would just come over as gushing.

Just watch this movie and let it touch you.

Well done Natalie & Mark 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Perfect film for this time, with or without a pandemic, but with this new trend of doing everything via video and always connected to some technological equipment that keeps us connected, but distant at the same time. We can say that the film was very cheap, even the connection failures were evident. Good dialogues and monologues that remind you of how we used letters. Contextualizing our needs and developments in new lives, which always provide us with surprises, sometimes not so pleasant, but which makes our life active and at times with a lot of participation. Congratulations to those involved, this film shows how it can be done with few people, but with quality.