Page 18 THE VILLADOM TIMES II & IV • September 11, 2013 Derbez, Peralta star in ‘Instructions not Included’ by Dennis Seuling Valentin (Eugenio Derbez) is a single guy in his thirties living in Acapulco who fancies himself quite the ladies’ man, luring a parade of pretty women to his bachelor pad for one-night stands. One day, one of his conquests, Julie (Jessica Lindsey), shows up with a baby, claims it is his and, after asking for cab fare, takes off. Valentin is left holding a baby girl, thoroughly flummoxed as to how to care for her or what being a parent involves. After several missteps in child care, he decides it is best for baby Maggie to be brought up in the United States, where she will have greater opportunities. In California, Valentin’s daring dive to save Maggie draws the attention of a movie director who is seeking a stuntman. Val- entin soon embarks on a career taking risks for high pay in the film industry. The film moves ahead quickly to when Maggie (Loreto Peralta) is seven. She and Valentin have bonded, and he has become a devoted father/friend to her. Derbez is a well-known sitcom star in Mexico. “Instructions not Included” is his directorial debut. The initial scenes are filled with obvious comedy bits and slapstick as Valentin is shown to be a Valentin (Eugenio Derbez) and daughter Maggie (Loreto Peralta) share a quiet moment in ‘Instructions Not Included.’ carefree fellow with few responsibilities or concerns other than finding his next conquest. Derbez is hardly the traditional romantic lead, so it is difficult to fathom his appeal to women. The movie is problematic in that it veers awkwardly from broad comedy to serious drama, without adequate transi- tions, so the shift is jarring. What begins as a lighthearted romp turns into a heavy drama. The first half of the film is the best, as the audience follows Valentin from average Joe to high-salaried stunt pro- fessional. This unlikely vocation makes sense in light of a prologue in which Val- entin’s father (Hugo Stiglitz) repeatedly exposes young Valentin to great danger to make him fearless in life. The lessons, though worthy of child protective service intervention, have taken root and Valentin confronts his fears by literally jumping from high places. The cartoonish quality of Derbez’s per- formance in the first half of the film dis- appears during its melodramatic second half. A combination of Buster Keaton, Jerry Lewis, and Roberto Benigni, Derbez easily sells the comic moments, but has greater difficulty convincing with the straight dramatic scenes. Neverthe- less, his screen chemistry with Peralta is outstanding and is largely responsible for making the movie work despite its flaws. The writers have incorporated some surprises along the way that seem con- trived and excessively sentimental when they are revealed, but Derbez’s per- formance manages to tie together the picture’s assorted subplots featuring eccentric characters. Rated PG-13, “Instructions not Included” is a commendable attempt to tell a story about a man thrown into an unexpected situation and trying, despite complete unpreparedness, to rise to the occasion. As the film moves along, view- ers see Valentin more as a real person than as a caricature. Skyline Theatre Company announces 2013-2014 season Skyline Theatre Company has announced its 2013- 2014 productions, marking the start of the group’s fifth season at the George Frey Center for Arts and Recreation in the Fair Lawn Community Center. This year, Skyline will present one of Broadway’s most beloved musicals, a heart-warming holiday favorite with a twist, and a hilarious take on Shakespeare’s classics. The season will begin in the fall with “Funny Girl,” the Broadway musical smash that made Barbra Streisand a star of stage and screen. Comedienne Fanny Brice had a career that spanned from vaudeville to the Ziegfeld Fol- lies to Hollywood as she became one of the most cele- brated entertainers of her time. Audiences will follow her life as she rises from the Lower East Side to Broadway and finds the one man she loves, no matter what. Featur- ing the classic hit songs “People” and “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” “Funny Girl” played over 1,300 performances on Broadway and will be at Skyline from Oct. 11 through 13. This winter, Skyline will revive the company’s peren- nial holiday favorite, bringing Dickens back for another Bergen County tour de force performance. Dustin Charles will star in the breathtaking one-man adaptation of “Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol” for special per- formances at the Maywood Public Library on Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m., and at the Anna Maria Ciccone Theater at Bergen County Community College on Tuesday Dec. 17 at 12:30 and 7:30 p.m. Charles stars as Dickens and all of his unforgettable characters from his 1843 novella. This adaptation by Greg Oliver Bodine serves up the magical story of Ebenezer Scrooge’s journey from miser- liness to redemption with warmth and humor. At one hour in length, it is a holiday treat for the whole family. Skyline will bring the gift of laughter to Bergen County by presenting “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged).” This irreverent romp with the Bard delivers all 37 plays in 97 minutes. These madcap men in tights will appear May 2 through 4, 2014 as they weave their wicked way through all of Shakespeare’s comedies, histories, and tragedies in one wild ride that will leave the audience breathless. Tickets are $28 for adults, $20 for seniors, and $18 for students. To purchase tickets online and for details, visit www.skylinetheatrecompany.org. Ticket reservations may also be made by phone at (800) 474-1299. Cook Up Some Business! Advertise your restaurant in The Villadom TIMES. You’ll reach over 47,000 households. 201-652-0744 www.villadom.com