Stylish but barely mediocre overall

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

What apparently has been an essential aspect of Dominican pop culture for nearly two decades managed to achieve high status on the island even with its minimalist budget. Unfortunately the sound quality is generally poor, and the quality of the acting is inconsistent, the story is heartwarming and Balbuena quickly becomes the most loved and well-known character in the Dominican Republic. Balbuena is a man barely making ends meet a few short years after the death of his beloved wife. His dream has always been to go to the United States, or Nueba Yol more specifically. His friend, Fellito presents him with a seeming chance of a lifetime to go to the United States for a comparatively small price illegally. However, as goes most stories about immigrants to the US, Balbuena learns the US isn't quite everything it was said to be as he encounters cultural hostility, run-ins with the law, and financial instability. However, throughout it all, Balbuena remains true to his character: hardworking, endearing, and loving. The story is a good one, even though it is fairly well-known (a poor and destitute, lovable character has no option but to flee illegally to the US to realize his dream of wealth and prosperity only to discover soon after that it is not all it was hoped to be). I would recommend it, despite it's general failure to appeal to American audiences.

I had just seen this movie. I thought it was good but I didn't find it as funny as some have. The character Balbuena was funny in a child like way, but the story itself was a bit depressing.The ending was somewhat confusing for me, pero I'm glad it was a happy one. I really liked the way the family discussed the differences between raising children in the US and in D.R. Its true, and it hasn't always been this way in the US, it was more like Balbuena and his cousin described it.Over all I liked the movie, but it went a bit too fast in some areas (like the relationship between Balbuena and Nancy)and some characters didn't get a chance to fully develop.

for all of those who say this movie is too Dominican that's it is... well it was made in Santo Domingo by us the Dominicans. yeah i'm Dominican and very proud of it... don't be saying the movie is not good just because u don't understand how US DOMINICANS be talking OK... and Balbuena is funny as hell. us Dominican are very proud of this movie because it reflects what any Dominican would want that is to come to the U.S for "el sueño Americano". It's a good thing this movie was made it makes all of us the Dominicans very proud and we like it a whole lot. Just make sure you watch the movie and really understand what they are saying before saying anything.

This is a well made comedy with funny, but not exaggerated, jokes. The downside is the introduced love-affair which is not very convincing. Combines reality and comedy very well.