Instructions Not Included (2013)

A man who has made a new life for himself and the daughter left on his doorstep 6 years ago finds his family threatened when the birth mother resurfaces.

Director:

Eugenio Derbez

Writers:

Guillermo Ríos, Leticia López Margalli

Stars:

Eugenio Derbez, Karla Souza, Jessica Lindsey

5 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Andrés Vázquez	...	Valentín niño
Hugo Stiglitz	...	Johnny Bravo
Eugenio Derbez	...	Valentín
Leia Freitas	...	Amante Brasileña
Ángela Moreno	...	Amante Dominicana
Gilda Gentile	...	Amante Argentina
Nancy Taira	...	Amante Oriental
Jessica Lindsey	...	Julie
Sammy Pérez	...	Sammy
Arcelia Ramírez	...	Judeisy
Agustín Bernal	...	Lupe
Gregg Lucas	...	Agente migración
Roger Cudney	...	Abogado Julie
Migael Penix	...	Portero hotel L.A.
Daniel Raymont	...	Frank Ryan

Storyline

Valentin is Acapulco's resident playboy womanizer, until a former fling, a young American named Julie, leaves a baby on his doorstep and takes off without a trace. Leaving Mexico for Los Angeles to find the baby's mother, Valentin ends up finding a new home for himself and his newfound daughter, Maggie. An unlikely father figure, Valentin raises Maggie for six years, while also establishing himself as one of Hollywood's top stuntmen to pay the bills, with Maggie acting as his on-set coach. As Valentin raises Maggie, she forces him to grow up too. But their unique and offbeat family is threatened when Maggie's birth mom, Julie, shows up out of the blue after six years after turning her own life around and wants full custody of Maggie, and Valentin realizes he's in danger of losing his daughter - and his best friend.

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Plot Keywords:

father daughter relationship | mexico | beach | acapulco | trucker | 

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Taglines:

Life doesn't care if you're ready.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual content, thematic elements and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

It was originally supposed to be a boy, but they coudn't find the right one.

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Quotes

Maggie: [Performing a ritual with a charm after a stunt] No fall, nor wound, nor aching head... can stop this charm from bringing you back from the dead!

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Connections

References Gravity (2013)

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Soundtracks

Sueña Corazón
Interpreted by: Benny Ibarra (as Benny)
Lyrics and Music: Benny Ibarra (as Benny Ibarra De Llano)
Editor: Warner Chappell Music México Production, instrumentation, interpretation and mixing: Benny Ibarra (as Benny)
For 11:11 Productions

User Reviews

An easy Oscar contender.

I was going to be politically correct and leave 8 out of 10 stars for this but then again could not think of the flaws that would justify the missing 2 stars so I threw in another. The last one is always reserved for technicalities, photography, sound, music, etc. An excellent example of how a simple movie can be so powerful. What could be more important than a parent/child relationship? I specially felt the plot as a father who was separated from an only child at a very early age. Great performance by Eugenio Derbez (Valentin), Jessica Lindsey (Julie) and Loreto Peralta (Maggie). I can't remember the last time I cracked up so much not having enough time to discreetly wipe my tears. That look in Julie's face when she encounters Maggie is worth seeing this alone; a moment which can not be easily replicated. Highly recommended.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

Mexico

Language:

Spanish English

Release Date:

6 September 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

Instructions Not Included

Filming Locations:

Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,846,426, 1 September 2013

Gross USA:

$44,467,206

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$100,502,638

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alebrije Cine y Video, Fulano, Mengano y Asociados

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

D-Cinema 48kHz 5.1

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1