Cantinflas, The Mexican Charlie Chaplin, returns as the assistant to a great scientist in another rip-roaring comedy. The old professor (Carlos Martínez Baena) is seeking a formula to convert seawater into gasoline (which he's named "Carburex"). Of course there are numerous parties interesting in the formula, including a bogus doctor who steals discoveries, the ruthless family with whom the professor lives, the cold-hearted investor funding the experiments, and the Petroleum Co., who will literally turn to murder to stop Carburex seeing the light of day.
Of course, our friend Cantinflas becomes the target of all these sinister types (they believe he has the Carbulex formula), but all he wants to do is create a formula to prolong the life of flowers, and woo beautiful journalist Perla Aguiar. After surviving various assassination attempts, he's eventually taken to court for the film's lengthy – but funny – conclusion.
The two MacGuffins add a slight sci-fi premise to proceedings, but, obviously, this is foremost a comedy, and a good one too. It's not quite up there with 'One Day with the Devil', but not miles behind either. The comedy is mainly situation based, so translates well for English-speaking audiences, although there is some of the old nonsensical Cantinflas chattering, which obviously loses effect in translation. Still, there's enough entertainment here to make you question why Cantinflas films are relatively unknown outside of Spanish-speaking countries (he still makes around $4m a year for Columbia in overseas DVD sales).
Of course, our friend Cantinflas becomes the target of all these sinister types (they believe he has the Carbulex formula), but all he wants to do is create a formula to prolong the life of flowers, and woo beautiful journalist Perla Aguiar. After surviving various assassination attempts, he's eventually taken to court for the film's lengthy – but funny – conclusion.
The two MacGuffins add a slight sci-fi premise to proceedings, but, obviously, this is foremost a comedy, and a good one too. It's not quite up there with 'One Day with the Devil', but not miles behind either. The comedy is mainly situation based, so translates well for English-speaking audiences, although there is some of the old nonsensical Cantinflas chattering, which obviously loses effect in translation. Still, there's enough entertainment here to make you question why Cantinflas films are relatively unknown outside of Spanish-speaking countries (he still makes around $4m a year for Columbia in overseas DVD sales).