amusmeci Director like this would be nicer, who reminds us all that one of our best friends is not only our dogs, but our FFWDS's bottoms, oh my agnostic god! Like a reviewer already said looks like an essay of what not to do in a movie: crappy narration, awful -unpaid maybe?- acting, uneven camera work - i cant do better with a first generation V3-, evidently unintentional zero budget. If this is an outspoken voice of the oppressed, then id go right now and change my name for Hakan! Im like most people here Hispanic & offended, were not this stupid like they portrayed us there and I'm sure our "enemies" the gringos neither. Placido Domingo, Benicio del Toro they're not Mexican, so why they need 2 prove how smart they are telling us that there are 40 countries behind the south border, come on! If the Americans, or the orientals, or the Armenian disappears one day so suddenly it will affect us everyone, no doubt about it. Next time think harder, before doing this waste of people's money & time, hire real actors: Latins doing Latins, Americans idem. Those sketches to connect scenes, why god, why?! And they tried to repair all the damage they've done during 90', with that background music when all Mexicans reappear in the same stupid and brainless way they disappeared

Breno Bacci As most people, I assume and hope, I try to rate movies on IMDb with my own established set of guidelines. In my case, technical excellence is not overlooked, but I tend to give a bigger weight to other aspects (such as the idea behind the movie as I see it, soundtrack picks, and cultural significance) than most people, I think. So while I admit much more effort took place for a movie like Star Wars, for instance, to be made; other cheaper and with less depth movies might get similar ratings - perhaps because the subject caught my attention, perhaps because I empathise with the filmmaker's premise, and so on.I am trying to justify my vote for "A Day Without a Mexican", because although I agree that the movie is far from being a masterpiece, I can't help but to feel like I enjoyed badly every minute of it. Not the best script or premise ever, not so thorough camera, art or sound directing, not the best acting or even the comedy, which failed to be hilarious more often than not.Nevertheless, this is a movie I'll hardly ever forget. Despite of all its shortcomings, it managed to get me emotional - but maybe it's just my time of the month.I picked this movie for watching expecting a light-headed comedy, and I was wrong. It does have some charming comedy on it, but the fact that so many characters - while depicted always mockingly - are quite similar to the bigoted minds around us, makes me sad. But sad in an optimistic kind of a way. After all, I believe ignorance is a finite resource.

fwomp Trying to conceive of a "Left Behind" style film happening to a specific race in a specific State is pretty out there. But director Sergio Arau does so admirably in A DAY WITHOUT A Mexican.Part comedy, part mockumentary, the film's liberal leanings are sure to turn some viewers off. Taking consistent jabs at prejudices (and hitting their target more often than not), the film takes on the premise that a strange, magical fog has surrounded California one fateful day, blocking all incoming and outgoing traffic, internet access, and all forms of communication. And this weird atmospheric disturbance has also taken away all of the Mexicans. The disruption to the Sunshine State is evident as fruit rots on trees, vegetable aisles in grocery stores go empty, and car wash patrons have to dry their own cars! Lilia Rod(riguez) played by Yareli Arizmendi (LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE) is a television news reporter who DOESN'T disappear. The supernatural phenomenon seems to have passed her by even though she's Mexican. Or is she? More unseen prejudices arise as we learn that most Anglos label anyone with a coppery-toned complexion as "Mexican." Lilia learns her true genetic heritage along the way but feels, in her heart, that she's Mexican and promptly vanishes in front of a television audience.John Getz (BLOOD SIMPLE) plays Senator Abercrombie who has to take on the position of California Governor Pro-Tem, as the current Governor and Lieutenant Governor were Mexican. Thrown into the spotlight, the new Gov has to deal with all of the chaos caused by the disappearances as well as the disruptions to his own household when their maid/nanny/cook vanishes.Other characters include two border patrol officers who are forced to deal with their prejudices when they learn that they no longer have a viable job. This is one particularly hilarious portion of the film that will really tickle audience's funny bones.As California tries to deal with the loss of an entire race, the remaining folks come up with some great reasons for the Mexicans' disappearance. Some say that the sombrero is shaped like a UFO for a reason {wink!} Others believe it's a form of the rapture, and the apocalypse is upon us. Still others believe that it is because the other races didn't appreciate the Mexicans and so they just up and left. Regardless of the reason (true or not) the effect is felt throughout the State. Anglos and other nationalities turn to looting and diving into black-market fruits and vegies in order to save their restaurants. Talk shows swing from one extreme to the other, some saying their glad that the Mexicans are gone while others struggle to stay on the air with a skeleton crew (many camera operators were Mexicans).The film's faults are that this probably won't be for those who live outside California. A Day Without a Mexican has a fairly specific target audience. But the great message, often funny and poignant at the same time, cannot be denied: we all need each other, regardless of race.Special mention of the film's musical soundtrack MUST be made, too. The mariachi version of California Dreamin' is outstanding, as is the theme song A Day Without A Mexican.

stillnatural2 This movie is not original material. Or maybe I should say it is not an original idea. After you view this movie and come to your own opinion, do me a favor. Check out a play written in 1965 by Douglas Turner Ward. The play is entitled, "A Day of Absence". The play was written in 1965, and precedes this movie by 40 years. The play was performed, at that time, by The Negro Ensemble Company, Inc. Ward was not only the playwright, he also performed in the play. A Day of Absence is a classic play written from a Black perspective. The plot is self-explanatory and the play itself is hilarious. But, as a warning. see the movie first and read Douglas Turner Ward's play afterwords.