Customer Reviews

Charm School (with Spanish packaging)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Although I would consider this a chick flick, the mexican type of humor allows this to be entertaing even for guys. The playful and sometimes even cheesy sexuality in the movie is not at all distasteful or unnecessary, but rather adds to the comedic sense of the film and gives it a sensual touch. Martha Higareda is a great and beautiful actress, and truly gives her character life as she portrays a young and rebelious senator's daughter, who is sent to an academy for ladies where she is to learn how to act like a proper woman in order to not ruin her father's campaign. The movie has great music by Ximena Sariñana, who also stars in this movie along with Rafael Sanchez Navarro, Blanca Guerra, Camila Sodi, and directed by Fernando Sariñana. If you are a fan of mexican comedies, then this is definately one to watch.

While I'm not partial to "chick flicks", Niñas Mal is one of few teen angst movies that anyone can enjoy. While the ultimate lesson of Niñas Mal (like Lindsay Lohan's Mean Girls) is to stay true to yourself, the movie is unfortunately weighed down with cliches. Too many aspects of the film are borrowed from similar movies, it only stands out thanks to the performances of a great cast.

The film stars Camila Sodhi (daughter of Mexican singer Thalía), the very stunning Martha Higareda of Amar Te Duele, and songbird Ximena Sariñana. Despite the fact that Sariñana stands out as one of the most beautiful young actress of Mexico, I had mixed expectations of her performance considering she continued to find herself in movies (like this one) directed by her father (Fernando Sariñana). I was ultimately happy with the job she did, and in the process became a big fan of her music, thanks to her contribution to the film's soundtrack (give her single "La Tina" a listen).

Niñas Mal is a fun diversion, and while it noticeably recycles ideas from similar movies, it's worth checking out.

To be honest, I expected less from this movie (to be lighter, wilder, and so on), but instead I was so pleasantly surprised to see a fresh story with excellent development. It has amazing art direction. I loved Blanca Guerra as the headmistress of the finishing school. The younger cast is fabulous. I had never seen Camila Sodi or Ximena Sariñana (who is more famous for her music, and the soundtrack of this benefits from it) act, but I thought both play their parts perfectly. Martha Higareda is the center character, the wild-spirited, confident troublemaker and aspiring actress. María Auro and Alejandra Adame each gave a unique comic focus to the movie.

The synopsis is a bit off on the website; when she enters the academy, there are only four other girls, and three of them get along with her just fine from the beginning. There is no lack of twists and witty surprises, and beyond that a lingering feeling after the film is over, which for me had to do with identity and who one is. It's a lovely film. There's a lot more depth in it than something like "Mean Girls," but no less comedy. I recommend it. I was impressed.