West Side Story (1961 & 2021) Dir. Stephen Spielberg
We start with the exception: it's not exactly a romcom but by far the best of the gringo films made about Latinos, if nothing else for the great music by Leonard Bernstein. And we've gone for the Spielberg 2021 remake, just because you can't get away with unrealistic stereotypes like you could when the 1961 original was made. So to the story...love at first sight strikes when young white Tony spots Puerto Rican Maria at a high school dance in 1957 New York City. Their burgeoning romance helps to fuel the fire between the warring Jets and Sharks -- two rival gangs vying for control of the streets.
2. Everybody Loves Somebody (2017) Dir. Catalina Aguilar Mastretta
Kind of a cute film, and a very good performance by lead Mexican actress Karla Souza who plays Clara Barron, a successful gynecologist in Los Angeles. As she delivers babies to loving couples, she herself is the epitome of cynicism when it comes to relationships; clocking out of the hospital and straight to the singles bars to pick up her latest male tottie. Bereft of any lasting relationship, in true romcom mode, Clara asks a co-worker to pose as her boyfriend as she heads to a family wedding in Mexico. Of course, she couldn’t have anticipated that her ex-boyfriend whom she hasn’t seen in a decade would show up unannounced, derailing what would have been a perfect weekend with her family. Helped along by her loving (and hilarious) family, Clara will have to choose between going back to the past or open her heart to new and unexpected possibilities.
3. Maid in Manhatten (2002) Dir. Wayne Wang
A list wouldn't be complete without a JLo movie, and this is probably the best of the plethora of them which includes Gigli, The Back Up Plan, Wedding Planner etc etc. Even though the sexual chemistry isn't exactly sizzling between her and Ralph Fiennes (she clearly wished Affleck was her co-lead there, a wish that was granted a couple of years later in Gigli, but unfortunately didn't make the film any better), this modern Cinderella story swings it on account of the whole Latina maid thing making it all the more relevant and realistic. And so Marisa Ventura (Jennifer Lopez) is a maid working in a luxury Manhattan hotel who finds herself falling for a senatorial candidate Christopher "Chris" Marshall (Ralph Fiennes) who catches her trying on Dolce & Gabbana clothes and immediately falls in love. Lopez keeps up with her adopted, socialite guise until her secret is revealed and much hand-wringing ensues. Fiennes ultimately decides that her lowly status as a maid is good enough for him; he can share his wealth anyway. All in all its quite sweet, if you can turn a blind eye to an admiring mention of Henry Kissinger - yes the ex-US Secretary of State who was so Latino-friendly he actively intervened in all of Latin America's democracies and helped back dictatorships in the 80s. If you can just ignore that bit, you'll enjoy.
4. Dance With Me (1998) Dir Randa Haines
Totally worth it just to see the hunky Puerto Rican god that is Chayanne. Romance and intrigue in a shabby Houston dance studio, where professional dancers are in training for the World Latin Dance Championships in Las Vegas. Ruby, a ballroom Latin dancer (Vanessa Williams) who says, "I don't want to be in love" meets a young man from Cuba (Chayanne) who says "I'm Latin, but I never saw Latin dance that looks like that" and ensues to show her how it's really done. Well, surprise surprise, they fall in love. It's kind of charming and the movie sees Ruby clearly and with surprising truthfulness.
5. Spanglish (2004) Dir. James L Brookes
Back to the Latina maid theme...a successful chef (Adam Sandler) in a dysfunctional marriage with Deborah (Tea Leoni) forms a connection with his family's new maid, a devoted immigrant single-mum from Mexico who doesn't speak English, Flor (Paz Vega). While trying to raise her own daughter, Cristina (Shelbie Bruce) the kind Flor nurses the emotional bruises of her bosses' daughter Bernice, who is victim to mother Deborah's constant criticism. Also living at the home is Deborah's alcoholic mother (Cloris Leachman), who frequently points out her daughter's faults. Deborah and John's marriage is in trouble, and John finds himself falling for Flor, who is struggling to learn English and trying to keep her daughter grounded and on track as Deborah continues to spoil the girl. Not that funny but kind of moving and insightful all the same, the ultimate message being...you can still be star of the show in and English-speaking film without speaking a word of English.
6. Father of the Bride (2021) Dir. Gary Alazraki
I mean, Andy Garcia and Gloria Estefan in one film? A film would have to be REALLY terrible not to give it a try at least. This remake on the comedy classic 'Father of the Bride', based on the 1949 novel by Edward Streeter, not only features said Miami royalty, but also Adria Arjona (daughter of Guatemalan singer Richardo Arjona) and Diego Boneta (hot off his title role in Netflix's Luis Miguel: The Series). The film revolves around a Cuban-American family; Billy (Andy Garcia) and Ingrid (Gloria Estefan) are surprised when their eldest daughter Sofia (Adria Arjona) comes home to Miami for a visit, announcing a new boyfriend, Adan (Diego Boneta)—who is now her fiancé—and their plans for a wedding and a new life together in Mexico. Family relationships are tested as the roller coaster ride of wedding planning races toward the altar. This sparkling story of a modern romcom updated from a timeless classic illustrates the surprising and funny ways the heart can adapt in the name of love. Andy Garcia hasn't aged well (was it that long ago that he creamed our pants in The Godfather?) but he's still, well Andy Garcia.
7. Cuban Fury (2013) dir. James Griffiths
OK time for another dance-themed film but, this time, one you are definitely not expecting. A kind of spoof salsa film set in...er Croydon? I mean, you couldn't make it up...excect they did. Starring Nick Frost, this a warm-hearted if not warm-blooded salsa comedy, represents the awkward British take on salsa culture. Bruce Garrett, the 13-year-old salsa prodigy is about to take the UK Junior Salsa Championships by storm when a gang of youths knock the stuffing out of him along with his desire to dance. Cut to the present day and Bruce (Nick Frost) has swapped Latin grooves for a dead end job. Salsa is a distant memory, and he leads a lacklustre and solitary existence, until the witty and beautiful Julia (Rashida Jones) becomes his boss. He is inspired to don his Cuban heels once again to win her heart and defeat his impossible letch of a colleague Drew (Chris O’Dowd) in the process. The best thing about this film is that, if you ever did actually partake in the London salsa scene in anyway, you'll actually see all the people in this film, including the lovely Yanet Fuentes, star of the London salsa clubs.
8. Day of the Flowers (2013) Dir. John Roberts
And if one UK production about Latin dance wasn't enough, another was released in the very same year. I mean, really? This time, thankfully, actually featuring a proper Cuban dancer in the form of the Royal Ballet's very own Carlos Acosta. So, one minute Nick Frost, the next, global ballet star? Talk about from one extreme to the other. Acosta's role? Guess what, a tour guide in Cuba. The film? A fabulously engaging heart-warming, feel-good chick flick with a Cuban 'vacuna' (injection). The story follows two feisty Scottish sisters (Eva Birthistle and Charity Wakefield) as they steal their father's ashes at his Glasgow funeral and embark on an all encompassing adventure to Cuba to scatter his remains with their mother. They encounter bad boy street jinetero (Christopher Simpson) at the airport, and part-time tour guide (Carlos Acosta ) on the way to Trinidad. As the plot thickens, the true identity of their father is thrown into question, and a moving love story unfolds. Another good reason for this film to make a list is that it's the only romcom with a black lead? Which makes the lack of Afr0Latin representation in most Latino and Latin American films only too poingant.
9. How to Be a Latin Lover (2017) Dir. Ken Marino
We got very excited about this film when it came out, I mean just the title makes you want to watch it right? but alas it falls into the same trap of being but not very funny. But one of its redeeming features is that it does star the lovely Salsa Hayek. I mean we can't let JLo steal the whole show right? This other queen lf Latina Hollywood, representing las Mexicanas has to claim her rightful place. Plus we have a cameo from Raquel Welch and a brilliantly cast Rob Lowe, what a legend. So, the story? Maximo gets the surprise of his life when his wealthy, 80-year-old wife dumps him for a younger car salesman. Forced out of his mansion, he must now move in with his estranged sister Sara and her nerdy but adorable son Hugo. Anxious to return to the lap of luxury, Maximo hatches a scheme to seduce a widowed billionaire and live the high life once again.
10. Salsa! (1988) Dir. Boaz Davidson
We're leaving the oldest till last, with good reason. It is, you guessed it, another romance revolving around (the clue is in the name) a certain Latin dance - I mean that's all we Latinos do right? But this one is THE original salsa romance movie, a classic, though maybe not for the right reasons. So classic in fact the title only needs one word. When it came out, it was the Latino Footloose, literally...
Puerto Rican auto-shop worker Rico (Robby Draco Rosa) practices with three women for a dance contest in Los Angeles - a menial car mechanic by day, he lives for the nights, when he dances and dates hot girls. He is, of course, cockily convinced the title of Salsa king is to be his. He encourages his best friend, courteous gentleman Ken, to date his sister Margarita so he gets a free hand with her flirtatious classmate Lola. The reigning salsa queen Luna’s interest in Rico as dance-partner threatens his on-off relationship with Vicki. More jealous trouble follows when Ken and Margarita also fall in true love. Really quite a terrible film. But at least we can't blame the gringos entirely for this one, we latinos put in all the cliches ourselves. Also, it's highly entertaining... so dated that it kind of captures a moment in time, in a way that say Lace did in the early 80s. And Draco Rosa, well he's a legend.
Another decent music not romcom (one day we'll do two lists one for musicals and one for romcoms) that didn't make the list but is worth seeing is ofcourse...
In the Heights (2021) Dir. Jon M. Chu
Didn't really live up to the play, but well produced anyway. Got a lot of flak for not featuring enough afro-Latinos. Nevertheless it's one of the few true reflections of Latino Life in the US; lights up on Washington Heights...the scent of a cafecito caliente hangs in the air just outside of the 181st Street subway stop, where a kaleidoscope of dreams rallies this vibrant and tight-knit community. At the intersection of it all is the likable, magnetic bodega owner Usnavi (Anthony Ramos), who saves every penny from his daily grind as he hopes, imagines and sings about a better life. "In the Heights" fuses Lin-Manuel Miranda's kinetic music and lyrics with director Jon M. Chu's lively and authentic eye for storytelling to capture a world very much of its place, but universal in its experience.
Other films that didn't make the list, with good reason. Watch them at your own risk!
1. A Walk in the Clouds (1995) - Keanu Reeves and Aitana Sánchez-Gijón as the lovers from different cultural backgrounds. Happily, despite some bumps in the road, love wins the day.
2. Fools Rush in (2002) - Salma Hayek meets Friends star Matthew Perry. Three months after a one-night stand with Isabel Fuentes (Salma Hayek) in Las Vegas, Alex Whitman (Matthew Perry) learns she is pregnant. Despite being a terminal bachelor, Alex is drawn to Isabel, and the pair marries. Isabel's father, Miguel (Tomas Milian), suspects Alex has bad intentions, and the couple finds themselves pressured by both their families.
3. The Valet (2022) staring the ubiquitous Eugenio Derbez as the valet of the title - heartwarming and fun
