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Mad Bills to Pay (or Destiny, dile que no soy malo)

Play trailer Mad Bills to Pay (or Destiny, dile que no soy malo) 2025 1h 41m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 9 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Ratings
Rico's summer is a wild mix of chasing girls and hustling homemade cocktails out of a cooler on Orchard Beach, the Bronx. But when Destiny, his teenage girlfriend, crashes at his place with his family, it's only a matter of time before his rowdy, carefree days come spiraling down. Using his hometown as a canvas, writer-director Joel Alfonso Vargas immerses us in the beating heart of his lively Dominican American community, collaborating with street-cast actors to bring authenticity and fresh humor to his engrossing debut feature. A blend of improvisation and whip-smart dialogue shape this slice-of-life portrait into an unapologetic look at the bittersweetness of growing up quickly when life takes an unexpected turn. Juan Collado balances portraying Rico's charm and fumbling swagger with nuance and compassion, complementing Destiny Checo's wistful gumption, as the young lovers find themselves in over their heads while playing house.

Critics Reviews

View All (9) Critics Reviews
Christian Zilko indieWire Mad Bills to Pay rests on the performances of Collado and Checo, both first-time actors who carry the understated film on their shoulders. Rico is charismatic to the point where watching him do just about anything would be entertaining. Rated: A- Feb 3, 2025 Full Review Jordan Mintzer The Hollywood Reporter The result can be both compelling and a bit amateur at times, though never less than genuine. Jan 31, 2025 Full Review Robert Daniels RogerEbert.com From the first minute until its sobering end, writer/director Joel Alfonso Vargas knows exactly what his debut film should be. Jan 30, 2025 Full Review Marya E. Gates Cool People Have Feelings, Too. (Substack) The cinematography makes the whole movie feel hot and sticky. Vargas builds a world that feels wholly lived in and has crafted a movie with a VOICE. Feb 28, 2025 Full Review Serena Seghedoni Loud and Clear Reviews It’s rare for a film to achieve the kind of balance that Vargas and his cast and crew have accomplished here, and the fact that this is a debut makes Mad Bills to Pay an even rarer gem. Rated: 4/5 Feb 18, 2025 Full Review Stephen Saito Moveable Fest Any feeling of pretension is undone immediately by how real everything else feels in the world the writer/director so richly evokes and a wicked sense of humor. Feb 10, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis Rico's summer is a wild mix of chasing girls and hustling homemade cocktails out of a cooler on Orchard Beach, the Bronx. But when Destiny, his teenage girlfriend, crashes at his place with his family, it's only a matter of time before his rowdy, carefree days come spiraling down. Using his hometown as a canvas, writer-director Joel Alfonso Vargas immerses us in the beating heart of his lively Dominican American community, collaborating with street-cast actors to bring authenticity and fresh humor to his engrossing debut feature. A blend of improvisation and whip-smart dialogue shape this slice-of-life portrait into an unapologetic look at the bittersweetness of growing up quickly when life takes an unexpected turn. Juan Collado balances portraying Rico's charm and fumbling swagger with nuance and compassion, complementing Destiny Checo's wistful gumption, as the young lovers find themselves in over their heads while playing house.
Director
Joel Alfonso Vargas
Producer
Paolo Maria PedullĂ 
Screenwriter
Joel Alfonso Vargas
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 41m