For years, Pantelion has looked for new ways of exposing Latin American culture in the United States.

The company has often utilized a diverse range of genres to appeal to American audiences while remaining true to their thematic roots. Now, with the new movie "A La Mala," the company is bringing the romantic comedy (AKA Rom-Com) to the United States.

As the film opens, the viewer gets a few quick cuts of Maria Laura (Aislinn Derbez) gliding into a night club. As she will momentarily explain, her job is to test the fidelity of her clients' boyfriends. Her conclusion is that all men are week and unable to maintain their fidelity. Everything is going well for Maria Laura until she is assigned a major task to win over Santiago (Mauricio Ochmann), a man who she cannot stand. And naturally, she falls for him.

The film works on numerous levels as it follows all the conventions to the "T." You want a couple that seemingly has nothing in common that eventually makes it work? Check. Are there funky sidekicks? Kika and Pablo fulfill this role. There are crazy setpieces, including a suspenseful driving scene in which Laura makes a last ditch effort to salvage her relationship. The film even brings telenovela conventions into play, particularly the entire concept of a poor woman falling for a rich man. In this particular case, Maria Laura is a starving artist while Santiago is a wealthy businessman who seemingly has no interest in the arts (or does he?).

At its best, the film relies on the chemistry between the two leads Derberz and Mauricio Ochmann. As Maria Laura, Derbez is fun to watch as she portrays different characters and she delivers them naturally with different accents and different body movements. When she is no longer in disguise, Derbez gives Maria Laura a rounded portrayal that shows not only comic touches, but also shows her at her most vulnerable.

As Santiago, Ochmann brings his usual charisma to the role showcasing his wit. In the scene when Maria, Laura and Santiago meet at a concert, Ochmann showcases a bit of sarcasm, but at the same time there is a bit of flirting in the scene. The movie also shows Ochmann dramatic side such as the scene when Santiago and Maria Laura are at his apartment and he reveals his past. This is a moving scene, and its impact is furthered by the use of Rachmaninoff's piano music. It might come off as saccharine, but within the context of a rom-com, it works.

The film also features solid performances by Papile Aurora as Kika and Luis Arrieta as Pablo. They bring the comedy to the film with their provocative and engrossing dialogue. Daniela Schmidt plays Patricia and gives the character a villainous edge that is both hilarious but at the same time menacing.

The film, however, is not perfect. The constant cutting to close-ups does not allow the performers to truly breathe and it can take the viewer out of the experience. It sometimes feels a bit haphazard and it can be distracting especially when the actor is delivering important lines. It adds a frenzy to the proceedings, but sometimes it can be overwhelming for the viewer.

All in all "A La Mala" is an entertaining if not a ground-breaking romantic comedy that is sure to bring intended audiences to theaters. However, for those not interested in this type of genre, it will likely not be of interest.

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