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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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83% Tomatometer 12 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

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Christian Zilko IndieWire Feb 3
A-
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. Go to Full Review Jordan Mintzer The Hollywood Reporter Jan 31
The result can be both compelling and a bit amateur at times, though never less than genuine. Go to Full Review Robert Daniels RogerEbert.com Jan 30
From the first minute until its sobering end, writer/director Joel Alfonso Vargas knows exactly what his debut film should be. Go to Full Review Alireza Hatamvand FILMINK (Australia) Nov 6
15/20
... while Mad Bills to Pay isn’t flawless, it stands as a confident and quietly powerful debut for Joel Alfonso Vargas. Go to Full Review Alfred Castaneda Shade Studios Jul 30
There is immense talent here, and an immediacy that is rarely captured in films of a similar mind. Go to Full Review Joanne Laurier World Socialist Web Site May 10
2/4
The story gets a bit tedious. Without anger, protest, genuine non-conformism, the details of such lives are not that fascinating or illuminating. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Cast & Crew

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Joel Alfonso Vargas

Director

Juan Collado

Rico

Destiny Checo

Destiny

Yohanna Florentino

Mami

Nathaly Navarro

Sally

Gregory Requena

Police Officer 1

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

Mad Bills to Pay (or Destiny, dile que no soy malo) (2025) View more photos

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 Pedullà
Screenwriter
Joel Alfonso Vargas
Production Co
Perpetuum Films, Killer Films, Watermark Media, Spark Features
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 41m