El ministro y yo (1976) User Reviews

Many delightful episodes

[TejanaNC · 7/10 · 9 January 2003]

This is one of the most watchable of the Cantinflas movies, at least for me. A good thing, too, as I've had to watch it several times to get some of the jokes! Cantinflas stars as Mateo, son of a postman, who gets involved in a number of subplots loosely organized around his new job as a bureaucrat and around life in the boarding house where he lives.

As is often the case with the Cantinflas movies, to enjoy the movie you have to accept that the only purpose of the plots is to let the star's humor shine in a number of absurd situations -- bureaucracy, office politics, adventures with an antique car, writing letters for others in the plaza -- and to let him express noble ideas in pursuit of a noble goal (in this case, helping a deaf girl and her grandfather). Once you let yourself roll along with the humor, you will enjoy many gems; my favorite is a scene dealing with the paperwork necessary for a simple question in the appraiser's office.

Check out and cherish the talents of a genuine international star who was a great man offscreen as well.

Sensitive and enjoyable Mario Moreno Cantinflas recital giving a very likeable and attractive performance

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 12 April 2021]

A good-natured man : Cantinflas , son of a deceased postman with whom he usually talks , befriends an important minister who hires him as a state official . As Cantinflas has a new job as a bureaucrat , as he becomes involved in a lot of problems with his chiefs and office colleagues. At work he meets an old man : Angel Garasa , he makes a deep friendship with him , and his deaf-mute grandson . Along the way, Cantinflas has relationships with other lodgers at the boarding house where he lives . Finally , Cantinflas will do whatever thing to get the little girl can speak to undergo an overseas expensive operation .

Hilarious Mario Moreno Cantinflas tour-de-force resulting to be an agreeable and good-feeling film in which he acts as a real and kind Quijote helping unfortunate and distressed people . Cantinflas gives a sensitive and sympathetic acting as the good-hearted clerk who falls in grace to a Minister and subsequently working for the goverment . Problems emerge when his bureaucratic job and envy around alienates him with his work colleagues . The film displays a sour critique to bureaucracy that causes continuous headache and discussion due to the heavy requirement of documents and useless papers . The highligts of the movie are the dances and songs who perform Cantinflas and Manolita Saval , as they amusingly dancing and singing Zarzuela songs : 'El Relicario' music by Jose Padilla and 'Madrid' music by Agustín Lara . Other highspots are the wacky car races of antique vehicles in which Cantinflas gets to be champion after several obstacles.

Accompanied by the great actor Antonio Garasa and directed by his ordinary filmmaker Miguel Maria Delgado , both of them worked a lot with the great Cantinflas . Equally, Mario Moreno has performed motley roles with all kinds of jobs as a street cleaner, a scientist, a bellboy, a photographer, a priest, an elevator operator, a fireman, a student, a doctor, an Ambassador, an actor, a cowboy, a bullfighter, among others . These characters were interpreted in films as El Supersabio, El Señor Doctor, El Padrecito, El Analfabeto , Su Excelencia, Ni Sangre Ni Arena, Gran Hotel, Por Mis Pistolas, Sube Y Baja, Señor Fotografo, Conserje Para Todo, El Extra, El Bombero Atomico, El Barrendero . Most of them professionally directed by his favorite filmmaker Luis Delgado who had knowledge enough of the mechanics of cinema , getting entetainment and amusement, realizing good movies.