Born to Win

This dramedy deals with Encarna : Alexandra Jimenez, a thirtysomething girl caught into a humdrum life , she has an elderly and sick boyfriend : Jose Manuel Cervino, her former old teacher, and works in a poor job , selling mattress . Suddenly, she meets an old classmate, Cristina Castaño, who convinces her to work as a saleswoman and under command an elegant and mature lady who reclaims to be Victoria Abril herself . As Encarna believing to be the wished opportunity she was waiting for her sad life . As Encarna attempts to escape herself, and far from boring , tiring and routine , as she discovers a new world full of money and luxury .Things go wrong when a series of improbable and surprising happenings lead Encarna to question her new lifestyle and how legal it is , ending up into unexpected consequences.

Passable comedy with some dramatic elements , including decent interpretation, surprises, twists and adequate setting. It is a typical Spanish comedy with usual ingredients , as outlandish characters , confusión , mayhem and disconcerting events .The plot is plain and simple, a woman stigmatized by a famous sketch broadcasting in 1985's new year eve, parodying the Radio Show : ¨Encarna de noche¨ or Encarna at night , and performed by the notorious comical duo : ¨Martes Y Trece¨ formed by Josema Yuste and Millan Salcedo, dealing with Empanadillas de Mostoles , and later on, she becomes involved into twisted situations when she determines to work as a saleswoman for a strange company to sell their products : "SayLife" , and run by Victoria Abril herself. Alexandra Jimenez gives a nice acting as a woman with a boring life and a job absent of incentives. Cristina Castaño plays her previous friend who introduces her in the world of pyramid selling. And Victoria Abril as actress Victoria herself, playing a cunning and rogue seller boss who is really a ruthless swindler. Decent support cast , such as : Jose Manuel Cervino as the veteran and ill professor , Concha Hidalgo, Marta Berlanguer , Antonio de Cruz and the three Bodegas sisters or Las Supremas de Móstoles who perform and dance some catching and popular sings . And Millan Salcedo himself from Martes y 13 duo along with Josema Yuste, at an emotive final intervention.

The motion picture was regularly directed by Vicente Vilanueva. Being well produced by the prestigious Gerardo Herrero . Gerardo is a notorious producer and director, including important titles , such as : La punta del iceberg, Al final del tunel, La mujer invisible, El corredor nocturno , Vientos de Habana, Zona Hostil, El secreto de tus ojos, Heroina, Territorio Comanche, La niebla y la doncella, El Misterio Galindez , El Jugador de Ajedrez , Archimides principle , Tiempo sin aire , and several others. Gerardo Herrero has produced some films directed by this nice filmmaker Vicente Villanueva. As Vicente is a good artisan who has directed shorts as Eres, Heterosexuales y Casados and a few films such as : Lo contrario al amor and Toc Toc. Rating : 5.5/10 , acceptable and passable but average.