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Papi chulo

Play trailer 2:38 Poster for Papi chulo R Released Jun 7, 2019 1h 38m Comedy Drama LGBTQ+ Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
74% Tomatometer 50 Reviews 76% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Verified Ratings
After a newly-single TV weatherman is put on leave following an on-air meltdown, he directs his energy into home improvement and hires a middle-aged Latino day laborer named Ernesto to help. Despite a language barrier and having nothing in common, the two men develop an unexpected but profound friendship.
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Papi chulo

Papi chulo

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Critics Consensus

Papi Chulo is a cross-cultural comedy that mostly avoids the pitfalls of its premise, largely thanks to the chemistry between its well-matched leads.

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Critics Reviews

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Christy Lemire FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles) Sweet... I like that [Matt Bomer] is toying with his own image here. Oct 1, 2019 Full Review Richard Whittaker Austin Chronicle [John] Butler's quiet, slow-moving comedy drama touches on so many aspects of contemporary L.A. life that it sometimes lands only glancing blows on those topics. Rated: 3/5 Jun 24, 2019 Full Review Randy Cordova Arizona Republic Bomer masterfully inhabits the role, with Sean's neuroses and sadness always ringing true. Rated: 4/5 Jun 10, 2019 Full Review Laura Potier Outtake Mag It should be satirical, but the film doesn't seem to be in on the joke... [Moments of vulnerability] are to be credited more to the cast's acting power than to the narrative. Rated: 2.5/5 Aug 16, 2021 Full Review Sarah Brinks Battleship Pretension Overall the film is beautiful to look at but not very deep...I think the film is worth watching for some of the great work that Patiño does, but beyond that it is pretty standard fare. Mar 24, 2021 Full Review JimmyO We Live Entertainment [Matt] Bomer's work here is honest and heartfelt, and perhaps one of this year's best performances. Rated: 9/10 Sep 11, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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kat2D A buddy , self emotional coping film with all the emotions & issues related to todays world. John Butler paints such a light hearted message, and with the performances as well chemistry between Bomer and Patino ties it up all nicely making you laugh til you can also cry. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/11/19 Full Review Doug G It's a fun movie to watch, although I felt it loses its way about halfway through and doesn't find its way back until the end. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/18/24 Full Review PridePosterStudios “Will you be my daddy” “Wouldn’t you like to know, weather boy” Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 04/26/24 Full Review Timothy D Sincere and full of heart, Papi Chulo has all the charm you could want. This sympathetic take on love and change is golden. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/20/23 Full Review Glen D I was bored on a Sunday afternoon and was browsing movies / TV shows. I saw that Matt Bomer was in this and clicked on it. I ended up laughing a lot and crying a little. It's completely original and the character developments are phenomenal. The language barrier between the two main characters is captured perfectly and with great wit. LOVED IT!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/14/22 Full Review Audience Member I wanted to like this movie. I really did. I saw the trailer and advertisements and I was very optimistic about it. I went in hoping that it doesn't do either of 2 things: 1. Be a white savior movie Or 2. Be a "magical minority character" movie. Meaning that the movie is mainly centered around a white guy and his problems, and the minority character comes in and changes the person's life without getting much character development or backstory, or much screen time away from the white person. It didn't break the first rule, but it really hammered in that second one with a bulldozer. Not to mention the fact that most of the things the white dude does are not okay, even if grieving. As far as characters go, I hated the white guy for 90% of the movie, and loved Ernesto but didn't get to know him because they didn't give him anything. As far as the acting goes, that is where I would say it has it's strengths. I hated Sean and thought he was a completely unlikeable psychopath, but I don't know if that can be blamed on Matt Bomer so much as the director and writer. I LOVED Alejandro Patiño's performance, as he was very natural and very funny/compassionate. They do have good chemistry together, which was unfortunately overshadowed by the bad, stereotypical writing. But they did have a few scenes that were very enjoyable. Like the scene with them in the back of the Lyft after a party. They should have stuck with that vibe. Instead they stuck to the "creepy, mourning psychopath uses an underwritten, magical minority character to fix his life" vibe. I'm super surprised that other people don't seem to see that. The 2 stars go to the moments of chemistry between the stars. If it weren't for that I would be giving it half a star for being a disappointing and oppressive story. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis After a newly-single TV weatherman is put on leave following an on-air meltdown, he directs his energy into home improvement and hires a middle-aged Latino day laborer named Ernesto to help. Despite a language barrier and having nothing in common, the two men develop an unexpected but profound friendship.
Director
John Butler
Producer
Rebecca O'Flanagan, Robert Walpole
Screenwriter
John Butler
Distributor
Blue Fox Entertainment
Production Co
Treasure Entertainment, Head Gear Films, Metrol Technology
Rating
R (Language)
Genre
Comedy, Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 7, 2019, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 10, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA)
$82.1K
Runtime
1h 38m
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