La Gente de la Universal

April 04, 2024

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Diogenes

Hernandez … Alvaro Rodriguez

Fabiola … Jennifer Steffens

Clemente Fernandez … Robinson Diaz

Margarita … Ana Maria Aristizabal

Gaston …Ramon Aguirre

Begona … Aitzpea Goenaga

Francois … Francois Bassile

A raunchy black comedy centered on a spitball Bogota p.i. agency, “The People at Universal” marks a lively debut by Colombian director Felipe Aljure. Tightened by some 20 minutes, especially from its discursive latter reels, pic could prove a tasty item for tube buyers and even cross over to some arthouse biz.

Film moves at a fast lick, with a cleverly worked out wheels-within-wheels plot that has everyone doing the dirty on everyone else. Central characters are the sexually insatiable trio of the Universal Detective Agency, run by ex-cop Diogenes (Alvaro Rodriguez) with his sexy wife Fabiola (Jennifer Steffens) and handsome nephew Clemente (Robinson Diaz). Clemente and Fabiola go at it like bunnies whenever the boss isn’t around.

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When Diogenes is hired by a jailed Spanish mobster (Ramon Aguirre) to find out who’s sleeping with his porn-star mistress (Ana Maria Aristizabal), the sexual and financial double-crossing moves into high gear.

Playing is straight-faced but colorful, heightened by antsy camera work, a perky score and large dollops of Latin machismo and sexuality. Final reels lack verve and overdo the violence; nudity throughout is frank but natural. Performances are excellent down the line, led by Rodriguez as the simian Diogenes.

Tech credits are fine, with post-production (done in Bulgaria) up to scratch.

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